Authorities in Delta State are investigating the mysterious death of a young woman identified only as Brenda, who died under troubling circumstances after spending the night at the residence of a man she met on TikTok.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend in Warri, has raised renewed concerns about the safety of online dating and social media-facilitated meetups.
According to sources close to the case, Brenda had recently established contact with a TikTok user identified as Emmypounds. Over the course of three days, the pair reportedly engaged in frequent online conversations, during which they developed a virtual relationship. Following their brief digital acquaintance, Brenda agreed to meet him in person and visited his residence located along Jakpa Road in Warri.
The situation took a disturbing turn when Brenda’s phone became unreachable, prompting growing anxiety among her family and friends. One of her close friends, who had access to a secondary phone linked to Brenda’s TikTok account, reviewed her chat history and discovered that she had gone to meet Emmypounds.
Efforts to locate Brenda eventually led her loved ones to contact Emmypounds, who claimed that she had suddenly fallen ill and had been taken to a nearby hospital.
When her family traced her to the medical facility, they found her in an extremely critical condition. She was reportedly unresponsive, unable to speak, and showed signs of severe distress.
According to witnesses, Brenda had multiple bruises on her body and was placed in adult diapers due to involuntary urination and defecation. Despite the family’s efforts, she passed away without regaining the ability to explain what had happened to her.
In the wake of her death, Emmypounds was taken into custody by the Delta State Police for questioning. He maintained his innocence, claiming that they had slept in the same room and that he awoke to find her in that condition.
While the initial circumstances raised suspicions of foul play, the Delta State Police have offered a preliminary explanation that suggests otherwise. Speaking to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, stated that the incident is not currently being treated as a murder case.
According to the PPRO, it is suspected that the woman’s death may have been caused by generator fumes. “It’s not a case of murder,” he said. “They put on a generator in the house, and it was suspected that the fumes killed the lady while the boy escaped narrowly. It was after the boy recovered that he was taken into custody.”
Police investigations are ongoing to confirm the exact cause of death, including whether carbon monoxide poisoning was responsible and if any negligence or foul play was involved. Brenda’s death has stirred emotional reactions on social media and within her community, highlighting the dangers associated with meeting strangers through online platforms.
Authorities have advised the public to exercise caution when engaging in online relationships and to notify trusted individuals before visiting unfamiliar locations or meeting people for the first time.