A 30-year-old man, Joseph Efe, who was arrested for tying up a half naked lady believed to be sex worker with cello tape at Top View hotel Abuja as seen in a viral video has said he is a thief and not a ritual killer as widely speculated on the social media.

There were speculations that Efe was an internet fraudster and had intended to kill the lady she tied up in the hotel and possibly use her body parts for money ritual before he was busted after the video emerged on the social media.

However, Efe told journalists when he was paraded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu in Abuja on Friday that his intention was to steal the cellphone of the lady he identified as a commercial sex worker and not to kill her for ritual.

Efe said before his arrest in Abuja, he had stolen from four victims in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja.

He claimed he was committing the crime to raise money for his sister who has sickle cell anemia.

Efe also revealed during his confession before journalists on Friday that he met the victim on a “hookup site” before inviting her to the hotel.

The suspect said he tied the victim to prevent her from getting help as he exited the hotel after stealing from her.

“I tied her so that she would not run after me as I fled. I told her to take off her clothes so that even if she is able to untie herself, before she puts on her clothes I will be long gone,” Efe said.

Narrating her ordeal, the woman(name withheld), said that she had been on the hookup site called “coded site”.

“I met the suspect some months ago. I live in Enugu but visit Abuja for other business reasons.

“When I got to the hotel, the suspect asked me whether I feared death.

“He said if I cooperate with him he will not hurt me like other girls. He said his friend was outside and if I made any wrong move, he injected me with something.

“ I pleaded with him, he slapped me and asked me to strip my clothes. I tried to get to the door but it was locked by him and he held the keys,” she said.

He removed my clothes when I tried running to the door, he locked the door and removed the key.

She alleged that he used her dress to tie her hands my dress to first tie her hands but when it was not tight enough, he took out a cellophane tape .

“ He turned the television volume very high and blocked my mouth with a handkerchief ,” she said.

She further said that he stole her phone, unlocked it with her thumb, asked for her bank app details then realised she had no money in the account.

“ He warned me not to make noise that he was stepping out then locked me in the room.

“ I later noticed a movement outside the door and saw the color of the uniform the person wore is that of the hotel staff.

“ I struggled and dragged myself to the window then started banging it, luckily the guy heard me at which I immediately gave him a sign to run after the person taht just left the room which he did then he was caught,” she said.

According to the NSCDC FCT Commandant it was in the process of Joseph Efe trying to escape from the hotel premises that his movement became suspicious and in the process of trying to stop him, he took to his heels before being chased and caught by NSCDC operatives.

Odumosu said that the video circulated on social media of the lady and the Efe in the hotel room was not recorded by NSCDC operatives.

“Let it be made clear that the video in circulation on this incident was not shot by the operatives of the NSCDC as we only became aware of its existence when it went viral on social media,” he said.

He added that after preliminary investigation the suspect and victim will be handed over to the relevant agency for further necessary actions and investigation.

“We are duty bound and empowered to do due diligence before taking necessary steps towards prosecuting or handing over a suspect as the case may be to any relevant sister agency,” he said.

The commandant warned hotel operators to be more vigilant and should do better in protecting guests.

“Ensure your hotel facilities and premises are not used as a place to perpetuate crime.

“Let me also caution all young ladies also known as ‘runs girs’ to desist from such acts that will endanger their lives but rather engage in legitimate businesses to earn a living,” he said.

In another development, he said that four alleged vandals were arrested in the territory for theft and vandalising public infrastructure.

“One Usman Ibrahim was arrested while vandalising armoured cables from a transformer in Nuclear Technology Centre, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission premises in Kwali Area Council following an intelligence tip-off.

“Another three persons were arrested while transporting a vandalised air-conditioner and stolen cables suspected to have

been vandalised at Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in Kwali also.

“ Charms were found on them and they confessed that one of the three is the seller while the other two are the buyers,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)