How We Rescued 16-Year-Old Girl Accused in Fatal Pepper Soup Poisoning, Edo Police

Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest and rescue of 16-year-old Aisha Suleiman, who is accused of poisoning a pepper soup meal that allegedly led to the deaths of her ex-boyfriend Emmanuel Elogie and four of his friends.

In a press release on Thursday, Edo State Police Command shared details of the tragic case, responding to a wave of social media reactions that have been both condemning and inquisitive. According to police sources, Aisha was accused of preparing a poisoned pepper soup for her former boyfriend Emmanuel, 19, who allegedly shared the meal with friends, resulting in their deaths.

The incident, which occurred in Afashio Community, Uzairue, in Etsako West Local Government Area, has sparked intense public discussion, with many Nigerians expressing shock and calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the deaths.

The police statement, signed by spokesperson Moses Yamu, outlined the initial discovery. Emmanuel’s father, Mr. Elogie Ezekiel, reported the incident on October 26 after finding his son’s body along with those of four other victims in various rooms within Emmanuel’s apartment. The victims included Emmanuel’s girlfriend, Ada Samuel, 16, and friends Samuel and Jeffrey Ayegwalo, who were siblings, and another individual known as Nurudeen.

Upon learning about the incident, police officers swiftly responded to a call on October 29 that a group of young men had gathered to confront Aisha, allegedly attempting to carry out jungle justice. “Operatives from Jattu Division mobilized to the scene, rescuing the suspect and transferring her to police custody for her safety,” Mr. Yamu confirmed in the statement. He added that the investigation has since been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to ensure a thorough and unbiased inquiry.

Commissioner of Police Umoru Ozigi has urged the public to refrain from acts of jungle justice, assuring that every aspect of the case will be carefully examined and that the police will work diligently to provide answers. The Commissioner emphasized the commitment of the Edo State Police Command to uphold justice, warning against any extrajudicial measures by the community.