The tragic murder of Deborah Moses Okwori, allegedly by her ex-lover, Lintex Ogale in Lagos, has once again cast a dark shadow over Nigeria.
The 23-year-old rising interior designer, popularly known as Deb’rah Porsche, is the latest in a disturbing pattern of young women whose lives have been brutally cut short by men they once trusted and loved.
DAILY POST noted that her killing, which has sparked outrage and mourning, is not an isolated incident.
For more than a decade, Nigeria has witnessed a chilling cycle of relationship-related femicides.
From Abuja to Lagos, from Benue to Nasarawa, cases abound of women who never made it out alive from abusive or toxic relationships.
A report released by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently showed that 140 women and girls died every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which means one woman killed every 10 minutes.
Released on the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the report sheds light on the global crisis of femicide and calls for urgent action.
Below is a chronological timeline of some of the most shocking cases that reveal the persistence of this deadly trend in Nigeria:
2012: The Cynthia Osokogu case
In one of Nigeria’s most infamous incidents, Cynthia Udoka Osokogu, a postgraduate student, was lured via Facebook to Lagos under the guise of a business meeting. She was drugged, tied, robbed, raped, beaten, and strangled to death in a hotel room. Her killers were later convicted, but her story remains a chilling reminder of betrayal in the digital age.
2017: NAF personnel kills lover in Benue
A personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, in a jealous rage, shot dead his colleague and lover, Oladipupo Solape, in Makurdi. The brutal killing of the 21-year-old, nicknamed “Shomzy Shomzy,” shocked the nation.
May 2018: Lover’s corpse in a sack
In Lagos, Isaiah Chukwu, a spare parts dealer, was arrested for allegedly killing his 26-year-old live-in lover, Joy, and stuffing her body into a bin, later sealed in a sack. The gruesome act was uncovered by a passing cleric.
May 2022: Maria Ali murdered by ex-lover
In Abuja, Maria Ali, 31, was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Ben, after she ended their 10-year relationship and found new love. Despite separation, Ben harassed her repeatedly until the fateful day he allegedly lured her into his car and murdered her.
December 2022: The Ijeoma Felix case
Police arrested Edeh Tochukwu in Abuja for killing 48-year-old Ijeoma Felix (popular on Facebook as Phyllis Ijeoma) during an argument. He struck her with a pestle, stole her belongings and car, later selling it for N1.7 million.
May 2022: The hotel killing in Ayobo
Another case in Lagos saw Amos Daniel arrested for allegedly killing a woman believed to be his girlfriend in a hotel. Guests raised an alarm after hearing strange noises from their room.
October 2024: Priscilla Ocheme’s suspicious death
The family of 24-year-old Priscilla Ocheme, an Idoma native, was left devastated after her mysterious death in Abuja. She had gone to visit her boyfriend in Lugbe but never returned alive. The suspect claimed it was an “accident,” but questions remain unanswered.
2024: Justice for Salome Adaidu
A High Court in Lafia sentenced gospel singer, Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for killing and dismembering his girlfriend, Salome Adaidu, a 24-year-old NYSC corps member. The brutality of the crime shook the nation.
September 2025: Deborah Moses Okwori’s murder
Now, the nation mourns once more as Deborah Moses Okwori, a daughter of Benue, was allegedly stabbed to death by her jealous ex-lover, Lintex Ogale, who could not accept the end of their relationship.
Speaking on the rising wave of relationship-related killings, human rights lawyer, Barr. Enewa Grace Adanu, condemned the trend in strong terms.
“This is no longer just crime; it is gender-targeted violence. The state must treat these killings as femicides.
“Women are not properties that men can dispose of when relationships end. The silence of security agencies emboldens killers,” she said.
“Stronger legislation and swifter prosecution are needed. The slow judicial process makes potential offenders believe they can get away with murder. Nigeria needs special courts to handle gender-based violence,” she added.
Human rights activist, Meddy Olotu, who first broke the news of Deborah Moses Okwori’s gruesome murder, urged young women to prioritize their safety above societal pressure to remain in toxic relationships. He stressed that no love story should end in death.
“No relationship is worth your life. If a man begins to threaten or abuse you, that is not love, it is a red flag, and you must walk away,” Olotu said.
United Nations Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous had this to say: “Deborah’s death should remind us that silence in the face of threats can be deadly. Women must speak up, seek help, and report to the authorities at the first sign of danger.
“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable, it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies.
“It is time for world leaders to UNiTE and act with urgency, recommit and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all.”
