By Ali Elias
A 200-level student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Emmanuel Gambo, has been arrested and arraigned by the Enugu State Police Command for the alleged murder of a 22-year-old female student, Deborah Sam-Praise Ememem.
The tragic incident, which has sent shockwaves through the university community, occurred at a hotel in Obukpa, Nsukka, where both students had checked in together on the night of June 14, 2025.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, Gambo, who is studying Material and Metallurgical Engineering and hails from Kogi State, allegedly murdered Ememem following a disagreement over money.
“Findings revealed that on June 14, 2025, at about 9p.m., the suspect checked into a hotel in Obukpa, Nsukka, with the deceased,” Ndukwe said in a statement released Monday.
“In the early hours of June 15, 2025, a dispute ensued after a second round of intercourse, during which the deceased allegedly demanded an additional ₦15,000 from the suspect, on top of the ₦5,000 earlier paid. The disagreement turned violent, and the suspect strangled her to death.”
After the murder, Gambo wrapped the young woman’s body in a towel and curtain torn from the hotel room and hid her remains beneath the bed.
The hotel staff reportedly discovered the decomposing body the following morning, June 16, after perceiving a foul odour coming from the room.
Police investigations were initially stalled, as Gambo had registered at the hotel with a false name and unreachable contact information. However, intelligence gathered by detectives eventually led to his arrest at his lodge in Nsukka on July 2.
“The deceased’s iPhone was immediately recovered from him. A bottle of Asconi Agor red wine, which the deceased had brought to the hotel, was also found in his possession,
“He later led police detectives to recover the deceased’s Redmi tablet and earbuds, which he had thrown out through the hotel window in a bag after committing the crime.” Ndukwe stated.
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr. Mamman Giwa, has commended the investigative team for their diligence and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to justice and public safety. He also advised parents to pay closer attention to their children and urged young people to resist negative influences and social vices.
This incident once again casts a grim light on the dangers facing young Nigerians, not only from criminal elements in society but sometimes from peers within their own communities. It underscores the urgency of promoting respectful relationships, mental health awareness, and moral education in both schools and homes.
The tragedy of Deborah Ememem’s death is a painful reminder that the choices we make—even in a moment—can alter lives forever. Justice must be served, but society too must reflect deeply on how to prevent the next preventable tragedy.
Sourced from NAN