Jealousy Rage: Man Strangles Girlfriend, Dumps Body with Cotton-Stuffed Nose

​KADUNA — A domestic dispute over an alleged phone call from a rival lover turned fatal in the Romi area of Kaduna State, culminating in the arrest of 35-year-old Manaseh Bitrus Jatau for the killing of his girlfriend, Rebecca Ojonike Jeremiah.

​The harrowing incident came to light on September 5, 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m., when horrified residents of Mai Angwa Street, Romi, stumbled upon a lifeless body dumped in an open field. The victim, a 35-year-old resident of the nearby Karatudu area, was discovered with cotton wool stuffed tightly into her nostrils.

​Alarmed passersby immediately alerted the Officer-in-Charge of the Romi Police Outstation, prompting a swift response from tactical detectives who cordoned off the scene. The victim’s body was evacuated to St. Gerald Hospital, Kakuri, where an attending medical doctor formally pronounced her dead. Her remains have since been deposited at the hospital’s morgue pending a comprehensive autopsy.

​According to the Kaduna State Police Command, digital footprint tracking and preliminary intelligence unraveled a trail pointing directly to Jatau. Investigators established that the suspect was the last person to communicate with the deceased, having lured her out to a popular hangout spot, Ebano Joint, in Romi.

​operatives tracked Jatau down to his workplace at Tomato Jos Company in the Maraban Jos area, where he was apprehended without incident.

ADVERTISEMENT

​During intensive interrogations by state detectives, Jatau reportedly confessed to the crime, claiming the fatal confrontation erupted inside his private quarters. He alleged that a bitter argument ensued after his phone rang and another woman called him, triggering accusations of double-dating from Jeremiah.

​The suspect claimed that a physical brawl broke out between them during the heated exchange, leading to her sudden collapse and death. Rather than raising an alarm or seeking emergency medical help, Jatau admitted to dragging her body under the cover of darkness and dumping it in an open field near his residence in a desperate bid to conceal the homicide.

​Confirming the breakthrough, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, reiterated the command’s intolerance for violent crimes.

​The State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, also weighed in on the tragedy, strongly condemning resort to violence in interpersonal relationships. The CP urged members of the public to embrace peaceful dialogue and alternative dispute resolution when managing emotional grievances.

​Police authorities confirmed that the suspect remains in custody and will be formally arraigned in court upon the final conclusion of the ongoing investigation.