UNN Student Arrested for Strangling Woman Over ₦15,000 Dispute

The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 22-year-old undergraduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Emmanuel Gambo, in connection with the death of a young woman, Deborah Sam-Praise Ememem, whose decomposing body was discovered under a hotel bed in Obukpa, Nsukka.

The tragic incident, which has drawn widespread outrage, occurred in mid-June but came to light following a detailed investigation led by the police homicide unit.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the suspect, a second-year student of Material and Metallurgical Engineering from Kogi State checked into the unnamed hotel with the deceased on the evening of June 14, 2025.

Police investigations revealed that a violent altercation broke out in the early hours of June 15, after the victim allegedly demanded an additional ₦15,000 for sexual services, on top of the ₦5,000 previously paid. The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to strangling the victim in a fit of rage. He then wrapped her body in a towel and curtain, hiding it beneath the bed in the hotel room.

Two days later, on June 16, hotel staff discovered the decomposing body after detecting a foul odour emanating from the room. The suspect had already fled the scene, having provided false identification and an unreachable phone number at check-in deliberately hindering the initial investigation.

After weeks of intelligence-led tracking, the suspect was apprehended on July 2 at his student residence in Nsukka. The deceased’s iPhone was found in his possession, along with other personal items, including a tablet, earbuds, and a bottle of wine that she had brought to the hotel.

The Police Command has since handed the matter to its State Criminal Investigation Department for further legal proceedings.

Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the investigating officers for their diligence and reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice for the victim.

“This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of social vices and the importance of vigilance, particularly among young people. We urge parents and guardians to closely monitor their wards’ behaviour and social associations,” CP Giwa said.

He further assured that the suspect would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The death of Deborah Sam-Praise Ememem has sparked renewed calls for increased campus safety, regulation of hospitality businesses, and broader discussions around gender-based violence in Nigeria.