By Our Reporter
The Delta State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation after the lifeless body of 23-year-old Precious Yusuf was discovered along DLA Road in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, days after she went to meet a man she had connected with on a dating platform.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, the victim had reportedly left home on October 22, 2024, to meet a man she met on a dating app called iHappy. She never made it back.
Her body was found on the morning of October 24, along a roadside near the Coka area, and authorities were alerted immediately. Police officers arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and initiated preliminary investigations to identify the victim and piece together the timeline leading to her death.
DSP Edafe explained that Precious had informed her friend before leaving that she was heading out to meet someone she had met online. The friend said she last heard from Precious the following morning, October 23, when she called to say she was on her way home. That was the last known communication before her tragic end.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that on October 22, 2024, she told her friend she was going to meet a male friend from the iHappy dating site. On October 23 at about 07:30 hours, she called her friend to say she was returning home. Sadly, her body was discovered the next day,” Edafe said.
The body has since been deposited at a local morgue, where an autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. The identity and whereabouts of the man she went to meet remain unknown as the investigation intensifies.
Police Urge Caution on Online Relationships
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has assured the public—and particularly the family of the deceased—that justice will be served. He also used the incident to caution the public, especially young women, about the risks of meeting strangers from online platforms without adequate safety measures.
“While investigations are ongoing, we urge young women to exercise caution when dealing with people they meet on dating websites and other social media platforms,” said Edafe.
Precious Yusuf’s death is not an isolated case. Similar incidents have raised national alarm over the safety of young women in social interactions, especially those initiated online.
In a separate case reported by PUNCH on August 20, 2024, 21-year-old Mojisola Awesu, a student of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, was found dead at a refuse dump in Ilorin after attending a party where she was allegedly paid to pose as someone’s girlfriend.
Police investigations in that case revealed that Awesu had been contracted by a friend for a party hosted by students from two private universities. Her body was recovered a day after she was declared missing by her roommate.
Kwara State Police spokesperson DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the incident, which remains under investigation as authorities seek justice for the slain student.
These disturbing events underscore the growing concerns surrounding online interactions, especially among young people. As social platforms and dating apps grow in popularity, so too do the risks of manipulation, exploitation, and violent outcomes.
Law enforcement authorities continue to urge citizens to be vigilant and to notify loved ones of their whereabouts when meeting strangers. While online platforms offer new ways to connect, police warn that caution, verification, and accountability must be part of every interaction.
If you or someone you know is meeting someone from online for the first time, authorities recommend:
- Meeting in public places
- Informing trusted friends or family of plans and location
- Avoiding isolated locations
- Staying alert and trusting your instincts
The Delta State Police Command has asked anyone with information that could assist the investigation into Precious Yusuf’s death to come forward.