A chilling case of obsession and violence has rocked Lagos after 32-year-old Deborah Moses, an interior decorator, was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Lintex Ogale, who could not accept the end of their relationship more than a year after their breakup.
According to police sources, the tragic incident occurred at Deborah’s residence in an upscale estate in Lagos on Friday. Neighbours said Ogale disguised himself as a dispatch rider in a failed attempt to gain entry into the estate before allegedly cutting the gas pipe in her kitchen, hoping to trigger an explosion. When that plan failed, he reportedly forced his way into her apartment and attacked her with a knife.
Deborah was said to have sustained multiple stab wounds before collapsing. In a desperate attempt to cover up his crime, Ogale allegedly stabbed himself and pretended to be dead when neighbours rushed in after hearing screams from the apartment.
The victim, who hailed from Benue State, had reportedly ended her relationship with Ogale last year after citing emotional abuse and constant harassment. Friends said she had endured months of stalking and threats, but believed she was safe after moving to her new apartment. “He couldn’t let go. He kept calling, following her, and threatening her even after she blocked him on all platforms,” a close friend revealed.
Police operatives from the Lagos State Command confirmed that Ogale was arrested and placed under guard at a hospital, where he is receiving treatment for self-inflicted injuries. Authorities say he will be charged with murder once he is discharged.
The case has reignited conversations about gender-based violence and stalking in Nigeria. Women’s rights groups are demanding stronger laws to protect victims of obsessive partners, stressing that many red flags are often ignored until they end in tragedy. Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics show that cases of intimate partner violence in Nigeria have increased by over 30% in the past five years, with many going unreported.
Deborah’s murder has sent shockwaves across Lagos and beyond. Friends and colleagues have flooded social media with tributes, describing her as a vibrant young woman whose life and career were brutally cut short. “She worked so hard to build her business, only to be taken away by someone who claimed to love her,” one mourner wrote.
Ogale remains under tight security, while police say investigations are ongoing to determine whether he acted alone or had help. The Lagos State Police PRO, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, assured that justice will be pursued to its fullest extent.
