A heart-wrenching story has surfaced following revelations shared in a video by activist VeryDarkMan (VDM), detailing how a young woman, Thecla, was brutally killed by a family friend she had sheltered and employed.
According to the account, Justus, an alumnus of Imo State University, graduated in 2022 and lived with his family in Ajegunle, Lagos, where his sister, Thecla, ran a thriving phone and accessories business. Their mother, a nurse, operated a small clinic, and the family later relocated to Sangotedo after Thecla’s business expanded.
After his graduation, Justus often assisted his sister at her shop. During this period, he reconnected with a childhood friend, Ediri, who lamented that life had become unbearable and he was struggling to survive. Out of compassion, Justus pleaded with his sister to allow Ediri stay with them and help at the shop. Though Thecla initially refused, she later agreed after their father intervened, knowing Ediri’s family from their Ajegunle days.
A few months later, Justus secured a job with International Breweries in Ogun State, earning about ₦400,000 monthly. Before leaving, he encouraged Ediri to stay committed, even promising to help him find work at the company. In early 2023, Justus succeeded and invited Ediri to Ogun for an interview. Afterward, Ediri claimed he was returning to Lagos to inform Thecla that he had gotten the job.
However, that was the beginning of a nightmare.
By March 2023, Thecla’s phone became unreachable. Family members grew worried when her friends reported hearing a strange male voice in the background of her calls. When Justus reached out to Ediri for answers, he gave conflicting accounts, first claiming Thecla had travelled, then insisting she left with another sister to visit their mother.
Suspicious, Justus travelled to Lagos and filed a missing person report. Investigations revealed inconsistencies in Ediri’s statements. Neighbours later told police that Thecla had accused Ediri of stealing over ₦900,000 from her but had chosen not to press charges.
Police arrested Ediri, and during interrogation, it was discovered that he had rented a new apartment using Thecla’s money. Her phone was later found in his possession. Under pressure, Ediri confessed to killing Thecla after an argument and initially claimed he only pushed her. Further investigation, however, revealed a horrifying truth, Ediri dismembered Thecla’s body and hid it in a bush.
The tragedy deepened when Thecla’s mother reportedly died of shock after hearing of her daughter’s gruesome death, while another sister battling cancer also passed away soon after.
Ediri was quietly charged to court and remanded in prison. His next court appearance is slated for November 12, and the family is now actively pursuing the case to ensure justice is served and prevent any attempt to secure his release.