A woman, identified as a suspected sex worker, has narrated her harrowing experience after being undressed, tied to a chair, and robbed by a 30-year-old man, Joseph Efe, at a hotel in Abuja. The incident, captured in a viral video, has garnered widespread attention.
Joseph Efe, who was arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command for stealing the woman’s phone, claimed he committed the crime to raise funds for his sister, who suffers from sickle cell anemia.
Speaking during a press briefing, NSCDC FCT Commandant Dr. Olusola Odumosu revealed that Efe was apprehended on Wednesday at Top View Hotel in Abuja. The suspect confessed to meeting the victim on a “hookup site” and inviting her to the hotel, where he later tied her up and fled after stealing from her.
Efe explained his actions: “I tied her so she wouldn’t run after me as I fled. I told her to take off her clothes so that even if she managed to untie herself, I would be long gone.”
The victim, whose identity has been withheld, recounted how Efe tied her hands with her dress, used cellophane tape to secure her, and turned the television volume up to drown out any noise. He then stole her phone, unlocked it, and demanded her bank details, only to discover she had no money in the account.
The woman managed to attract the attention of hotel staff by banging on the window, leading to Efe’s eventual capture by NSCDC operatives as he tried to escape the hotel premises.
The NSCDC clarified that the viral video of the incident was not recorded by their operatives and warned against jumping to conclusions based on unverified footage. The Commandant also urged hotel operators to be more vigilant in protecting their guests and warned individuals engaging in illegal activities to reconsider their choices.
In a related development, the NSCDC also announced the arrest of four individuals for vandalizing public infrastructure, including armoured cables and air conditioners, in the Kwali Area Council of Abuja.
