Victim

  The woman seen in a viral video, undressed and tied to a chair at the Top View hotel in Abuja, has recounted her harrowing experience with suspected fraudster Joseph Efe. On Friday, September 20, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command announced the arrest of the 30-year-old suspect. FCT Commandant Olusola Odumosu revealed that Efe specializes in luring women from dating sites known as “coded runs” to rob them of their phones and access their bank accounts. In his confession, Efe admitted to meeting the victim on a “hookup site” before inviting her to the hotel. The victim, Olivia Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, shared her ordeal with reporters, acknowledging her presence on the hookup site. “I met the suspect a few months ago. I live in Enugu but visit Abuja for business,” she said. Upon arriving at the hotel, she recalled, “The suspect asked me if I was afraid of death. He said if I cooperated, he wouldn’t hurt me like other girls. He claimed his friend was outside and that he would inject me if I made any wrong move.” She described how he slapped her, demanded she undress, and when she attempted to escape, he locked the door and held the keys. Efe initially used her dress to tie her hands, but when that was insufficient, he switched to cellophane tape. “He turned the television volume up very high and stuffed a handkerchief in my mouth,” she said. He then stole her phone, unlocked it by forcing her thumb on the screen, and asked for her bank account details. When he discovered that her account had no money, he warned her to remain silent and left the room. After some time, she noticed movement outside and recognized the hotel staff’s uniform, feeling a wave of relief. “I struggled to reach the window and banged on it. Fortunately, someone heard me, and I signaled in the direction the suspect had gone,” she said.