Edo Police Hunt Suspect After Girlfriend Suffers Severe Acid Attack

In the quiet Ihovbe quarters of Ikpoba Hill, a community that mostly wakes to the bustle of traders and the chatter of neighbours, a disturbing incident has shattered the calm — and ignited fresh conversations about the dangers of abusive relationships.

The Edo State Police Command has launched a full-scale search for Timothy Gilbert, a man accused of attacking his longtime girlfriend, Angela Ogah, with a corrosive substance earlier this month before disappearing without a trace.

Police spokesperson Moses Yamu, confirming the incident on Wednesday, said the Command is committed to ensuring the suspect is brought to justice.

“The Command has commenced a manhunt for the arrest of the suspect, and I am sure he will be brought to justice,” Yamu stated, noting that the couple had reportedly been entangled in repeated disputes over allegations of infidelity.

While authorities continue searching for Gilbert, the ripple effects of the attack have left the community shaken. Neighbours say the couple’s relationship had been strained for months — a tension that, tragically, now appears to have escalated beyond control.

At a private hospital in Benin City, 40-year-old Angela Ogah is in critical condition, according to her lawyer, John Izegaegbe, who raised alarm over her deteriorating health and the urgent need for justice.

Izegaegbe, who has petitioned the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, said the victim is struggling to speak and is in severe distress. “We want the suspect to be arrested. The victim is in serious pain. She could barely talk when journalists visited her,” he said.

For Izegaegbe, the matter is not only about the man who fled but about sending a clear message that violent partners must not be allowed to slip through the cracks.

“Gilbert is currently on the run after the attack. We are calling on the authorities to effect his arrest without delay,” he added.

The case has stirred outrage across Edo State, raising pressing questions: How did a troubled relationship escalate to this point? Why do so many victims remain silent? And are communities doing enough to intervene before violence erupts?

Activists in the state say Angela’s ordeal highlights a painful reality — that many individuals remain trapped in toxic relationships, often hoping things will change until tragedy strikes.

Police insist the suspect will not evade accountability, but for now, residents remain alert, watching and waiting for the moment justice arrives.