The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Emmanuel Gambo, a 200-level student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), for the alleged murder of 22-year-old Deborah Sam-Praise Ememem in a hotel room in Nsukka.
Gambo, who is studying Material and Metallurgical Engineering, was arrested on July 2, 2025, following a detailed intelligence-led investigation by the police.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Daniel Ndukwe, on Monday in Enugu.
According to the police, the tragic incident occurred between June 14 and 15, 2025, at a hotel in Obukpa, Nsukka, where the suspect allegedly checked in with the victim under a false identity.
“Findings revealed that after a second round of intercourse, the deceased allegedly demanded an additional N15,000, beyond the N5,000 already paid,” said Ndukwe.
“A dispute ensued, which turned violent, and the suspect strangled her to death.”
After the act, Gambo reportedly wrapped the body in a towel and a curtain from the hotel room and concealed it beneath the bed. Hotel staff discovered the decomposing body on June 16, after perceiving a foul odour from the room.
Gambo had reportedly given a false name and unreachable phone number on the hotel’s guest form, which initially hampered efforts to trace him.
“However, acting on credible intelligence, police operatives arrested the suspect at his lodge in Nsukka,” Ndukwe said.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, and detectives recovered the victim’s iPhone, Redmi tablet, earbuds, and a bottle of red wine she had brought to the hotel. Gambo had allegedly thrown some of the items out through the hotel window after the incident.
The case, originally reported to the Nsukka Urban Division, has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation and prosecution.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Giwa, commended the swift work of the detectives and assured the public of the command’s commitment to justice, security, and rule of law.
He also issued a strong appeal to parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards closely, and urged youths to steer clear of social vices and negative peer influence.
