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Jul 18, 2026 7:21 am
A 20-year-old nursing student, Favour Agbro, has died days after alleging she was raped by a prominent social media personality and business owner in Asaba, Delta State. The suspect, 40-year-old Ifeanyi Ogbonna widely known online as “Odogwu of Asaba”—is currently in police custody as investigations proceed.
Favour travelled from her home in Warri to Asaba on 1 June 2026, after Ogbonna offered her mentorship in content creation. On arrival, he took her to a hotel where he was staying, and is alleged to have raped her and subjected her to physical assault. She returned home in severe distress, and later died after ingesting a toxic substance; emergency medical care across five facilities in Delta and Edo States over nine days was unable to save her.
Her father, Ese Agbro, a retired petroleum tanker driver from Ekrerahavwe community in Agbarho kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area, described the family’s profound trauma. One of nine children, Favour was studying nursing at an accredited institution in Warri and also assisting at a private clinic, and was seen as a promising young member of her household and neighbourhood. The family incurred significant debts seeking treatment, and has called for full accountability and justice.
Favour initially sought support from a human rights activist after the incident, and later shared details of what had happened with her parents. Before her death, she recorded a video outlining her experience: she stated she had approached Ogbonna for career guidance, had told him she was a virgin, and had not consented to any sexual contact. She had informed only her twin sister, Faith, of her travel plans, sharing Ogbonna’s name and contact details before leaving Warri. Following Favour’s death, Faith accessed her sister’s phone and recovered full records of their communications with the suspect. Favour also reported receiving repeated threats from Ogbonna warning her not to disclose the alleged assault.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed Ogbonna’s arrest on 15 July, acting on a formal petition from the Agbro family. In an official statement, Command spokesperson SP Bright Edafe noted that the suspect had made preliminary statements during questioning, that all lines of inquiry would be pursued thoroughly, and that he would face formal charges once investigations are concluded.
The case has sparked widespread public discussion across Delta State and online, with many asking whether Favour was failed by the individual who allegedly exploited his profile to lure her, or by broader systems, social norms and digital spaces that left her vulnerable. Legal proceedings will determine Ogbonna’s guilt or innocence, while questions remain about how such risks can be better identified and prevented for young people seeking opportunities online.
