The Edo State Police Command has apprehended a 16-year-old girl, identified as Aisha Suleiman, for allegedly poisoning and killing her ex-boyfriend identified as Emmanuel and four of his friends in Afashio community in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, News About Nigeria reports.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu, disclosed this to newsmen on Friday.
He noted that officers from the Jattu Division were quickly mobilized when the suspect was almost lynched by the young boys in the area.
He stated that Suleiman was transported to the station, adding that the case has been transferred to the State CID.
He said “The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation.
According to reports, the sad incident that occurred on the 26th of October was made known when Emmanuel’s father, Mr Elogie Ezekiel, arrived at his son’s apartment around 6:30 a.m. that day and saw some lifeless bodies in the house.
It was gathered that Mr Ezekiel had discovered the lifeless bodies of his son, Emmanuel 19, and his girlfriend, identified as Ada Samuel, 16, lying lifeless on the bedroom bed.
He stated that as he moved further into the house, he saw the friends of his son also lying lifeless including Nurudeen, in the corridor, Samuel and Jeffrey Ayegwalo, both siblings, in the sitting room.
All five were immediately transported to the hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.
Some sources in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity noted that the victims had just consumed a pot of pepper soup prepared by Suleiman for the five friends.
The investigation took a significant turn three days later when police received a report that Suleiman, who was alleged to have poisoned the victims, was about to be lynched by a group of young men from the community.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umoru Ozigi, has ordered a detailed investigation, instructing officers to pursue every possible lead to determine the true cause of death in the case.
He also warned against any form of mob action, urging the community to allow the police to carry out their duties. CP Ozigi reassured the public that justice would be pursued diligently.
The case has however sparked rage on social media with netizens calling for capital punishment for the suspect.