A 2-week-old domestic staff has been arrested by the Nigerian Police for allegedly murdering his employer, Mrs. Marbel Okafor, at her Victoria Island residence in Lagos.
According to reports, the suspect, Abdul Latiff, was employed as a security guard in the first week of August 2026. Police say he allegedly stabbed Mrs. Okafor to death on August 16, 2026, made away with her valuables, and fled to his hometown in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Information gathered from neighbors and police sources disclose that trouble began on the afternoon of August 16, 2026 when residents of the Victoria Island building heard Mrs. Okafor wailing and calling out to her security guard by name.
A neighbor who responded to the unusual noise met Abdul Latiff outside the apartment requesting to know what had transpired.
“He told me that madam was scared of a cockroach, that was why she was shouting,” the neighbor told investigators.
The neighbor said Latiff then rushed into Mrs. Okafor’s room. Moments later and was seen leaving the apartment with some items.
Police reported that during that time, Latiff has allegedly stabbed Mrs. Okafor multiple times in the stomach with a knife. He reportedly took three phones, ₦10,000 in cash, and other valuables from the house before boarding a vehicle to his hometown Jalingo, Taraba State.
It was only after neighbors became suspicious and checked on Mrs. Okafor that they discovered she was dead. They immediately alerted the police.
The Lagos State Police Command launched a manhunt immediately and, with the help of intelligence tracking, traced Latiff to Jalingo where he was arrested.
A senior police officer conversant with the case said when questioned, the suspect claimed: “She did nothing to me. It was the devil’s work.”
The case has since gone viral on Facebook, sparking outrage and renewed conversations about background checks for domestic staff and security personnel.
Police declare that the suspect remains in custody while investigation is ongoing. He is expected to be transferred back to Lagos to face charges of murder and theft.
Mrs. Okafor’s family and neighbors have described her as a private resident of Victoria Island who lived alone.
The Lagos Police Command urged residents to always verify the identities and background details of domestic workers and to report suspicious movements to authorities.
However, this news report is based on police accounts and witness statements. The suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
