Aisha Suleiman, 16, was falsely accused of poisoning her ex-boyfriend, Emmanuel Elogie, and four others in Edo State. However, the victims were later found to have died from inhaling generator fumes, not food poisoning.
On October 26, 2024, Emmanuel, his girlfriend Ada Samuel, and three of his male friends—Samuel and Jeffrey Ayegwalo (siblings) and another friend named Nurudeen— were found dead in his apartment in Afashio Community, Uzairue.
Soon after, a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) accused Aisha Suleiman of poisoning a pepper soup dish that Emmanuel and his friends allegedly consumed before their deaths. The unverified claim spread like wildfire, turning Aisha into a public enemy overnight.
When Aisha returned to the area days later, a mob attacked her, tied her up, and attempted to burn her alive. Police officers intervened just in time, rescuing her and taking her into custody.
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“The officers from Jattu Division responded to an urgent call and were able to rescue the suspect from being lynched,” said Edo State Police spokesperson Moses Yamu, adding that Aisha was immediately taken into protective custody to prevent further harm.
Following her arrest, human rights activists and legal experts pushed for a thorough investigation into the case.
Forensic analysis later revealed that the victims had not been poisoned at all. Instead, they died from inhaling toxic carbon monoxide fumes emitted by a generator running in a poorly ventilated space within Emmanuel’s apartment.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, confirmed that the deaths were accidental and had no connection to Aisha. The authorities have since transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a full review.
After being exonerated, Aisha expressed relief but also deep pain over the ordeal she endured.
“I did not know anything about the pepper soup, I did not cook pepper soup that day,” she said. “I wasn’t even in Afashio when the incident happened. I was at Iyakpi.”
Aisha explained that tensions had already been brewing between her and Emmanuel’s family following their breakup. His father had reportedly warned her against visiting their home. She believes these existing tensions, coupled with the spread of misinformation online, made her an easy scapegoat.
She said if not for the help of security agents that whisked her away from the mob who had planned to lynch her for their acclaimed justice.
Community members are now calling for legal action against those who spread the false accusations that nearly led to her lynching.
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