For the Ememem family, June 15, 2025, will forever remain sad in their memories as it was a day that their daughter, 22-year student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) identified as Deborah Sam-Praise Ememem was allegedly strangled to death over alleged sex payment dispute in a hotel room located at Nsukka.
It was learned that in the early hours of that fateful day, a dispute ensued between the victim and the suspect during which the deceased allegedly demanded an additional ₦15,000 from the suspect on top of the ₦5,000 earlier paid and the disagreement turned violent, with the suspect strangling Deborah to death.
But while speculations were making the rounds that she was murdered for ritual purposes, the Enugu State Police Command refuted the viral report. The spokesman of the police in the state, SP Daniel Ndukwe, described the report as false, misleading, and capable of inciting unnecessary panic.
Ndukwe stated that preliminary investigation revealed that the remains of the deceased were found intact, without any indication of mutilation or organ harvesting, as widely speculated.
He further disclosed that evidence suggests she may have been strangled, as her body was discovered with bloodstains around her mouth and a swollen neck.
“On June 14, 2025, the victim, accompanied by a male suspect, checked into a hotel along Obukpa Road, Nsukka.
“The suspect, whose true identity and contact details are yet to be ascertained, reportedly checked out the following morning, claiming the woman had already left.
“However, her lifeless body was later found in the hotel room. She was taken to the hospital where she was confirmed dead by the attending doctor, and then deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
‘The commissioner of police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (State CID) to intensify efforts to trace and arrest the fleeing suspect and ensure that justice is duly served.
He warned individuals and media outlets spreading unfounded and sensational narratives to desist from such actions, as they only serve to mislead the public and undermine ongoing investigations’ he stated.
Police Nab Suspect
After an intensive, diligent, and intelligence-led investigation, detectives of the Enugu State Police Command arrested the male suspect, who is a student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), identified as a 22-year-old male suspect, Emmanuel Gambo, hails from Kogi State.
SP Daniel Ndukwe disclosed that the iPhone, tablet, earbuds, and other personal belongings of the deceased were recovered.
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