By DEBORAH AKPEDE

The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a 25-year-old data analyst who allegedly attempted to harm his ex-lover with acid but mistakenly attacked an innocent person instead.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspect, a resident of Lakowe in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, allegedly planned to attack his ex-girlfriend with acid after she ended their relationship.

NAN learnt that the suspect hired a man, who is still at large, and paid him N500,000 to carry out the attack.

However, the assailant, who was unfamiliar with the ex-girlfriend, reportedly went to her shop and mistakenly poured acid on her salesgirl.

The victim, who has lost her sight, is currently battling for her life in the hospital, with more than N40 million already spent on her treatment.

The suspect allegedly sent threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend before the incident and continued sending them even after an innocent person was attacked.

His phone number was later tracked, leading to his arrest.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation.

Speaking with NAN on Tuesday in Lagos, the suspect, who holds a master’s degree, said he met his ex-girlfriend online in January 2025.

He claimed the relationship became complicated after he discovered that she was no longer interested in him and was possibly involved with someone else.

The suspect said he took the law into his own hands by contacting a man to help him deal with his ex-girlfriend for ending the relationship.

“I felt emotionally hurt, so I hired a man and paid him N500,000. I only asked him to help me ‘deal with her,’ not to pour acid on her.

“He went to her shop and attacked an innocent person who works there,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin, told NAN that investigations into the case were ongoing.

“Investigations are ongoing, and efforts are underway to apprehend the accomplice,” he said.

Akinbisehin added that the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations. (Text, excluding headline: NAN)

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