FCT Police Rescue Woman Held Hostage in Abuja Hotel by Online Date

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command successfully rescued a 25-year-old woman, Promise Eze, who was held hostage by a man she met on an online dating platform. The suspect, initially identified as Michael Prince, was later discovered to be Emmanuel Okoro, who is now on the run.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, the command received a distress call from a hotel in the Wuse area of Abuja. Hotel staff reported suspicious activities in one of the rooms, prompting officers to swiftly respond to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered Eze in a dire state—tied to a small chair with her mouth covered in plaster and lying unconscious on the floor. Officers immediately rescued her and rushed her to Wuse District Hospital, of FCT where she was resuscitated.

Deception and Betrayal: How the Victim Fell into the Trap

Preliminary investigations revealed that Eze had met Okoro online, where he introduced himself under a false identity, claiming to be an oil company employee based in Delta State. He had initially invited her to visit him in Delta, but she declined. Instead, they agreed to meet in Abuja, where they checked into the hotel together on January 30, 2025.

Shortly after their meeting, Okoro’s true intentions became apparent. He brandished a dagger, using it to threaten and overpower Eze before tying her up and sealing her mouth with plaster inside the hotel’s bathroom. After restraining her, he fled the scene, stealing her two mobile phones. Investigators revealed that before escaping, Okoro was overheard speaking to suspected accomplices, informing them that he was regrouping before returning to the hotel to “finish the job.”

FCT Police Launch Manhunt for the Suspect

Following the shocking incident, the FCT Police Command has intensified efforts to track down Emmanuel Okoro. The Commissioner of FCT Police, CP Olatunji Disu, strongly condemned the attack, reassuring the public that all necessary measures were being taken to apprehend the suspect and bring him to justice.

Disu urged anyone with relevant information regarding Okoro’s whereabouts to reach out to the FCT Police command through its emergency lines. The FCT police Command are also reviewing CCTV footage and collaborating with intelligence agencies to trace the suspect’s movements. In the meantime, security has been reinforced in hotels across Abuja to prevent similar incidents.

Online Dating and Safety Concerns: Police Warn Young Women

In light of this incident, CP Disu of FCT police Command issued a stern warning to young women about the dangers of meeting strangers online without proper caution. He advised individuals to conduct thorough background checks before agreeing to meet people from dating platforms and to always inform close contacts of their whereabouts.

The FCT police Command emphasized the growing risks associated with online dating scams and the tactics used by criminals to lure unsuspecting victims. Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies. The rescue of Promise Eze serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking behind online interactions and the need for heightened security awareness.