The grief-stricken father of 30-year-old Deborah Okwori, who was brutally stabbed to death in her Lagos apartment by her ex-boyfriend, has opened up about his daughter’s last days, his unheeded warnings, and his unrelenting quest for justice.
In a heartfelt interview with The Punch, Dr. Moses Okwori recalled his final conversations with Deborah, revealing the painful irony that he had repeatedly cautioned her to be wary of men and never to entrust her secrets to anyone.
> “I told her Lagos was a land of opportunities but also a very dangerous place. I advised her to be careful with boys and not to trust anyone too much with her secrets,” he recounted, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Dr. Okwori explained that he often warned his daughter against men who lured women with promises of marriage, particularly “Yahoo boys” known for deceiving, exploiting, and in some cases harming women for ritual purposes.
> “I always told her, any man who is serious about marriage must come through me. A man who refuses to meet her father is not genuine,” he emphasized.
According to him, Deborah had promised to visit him just days before her tragic death.
> “On that Wednesday, I called to ask how she was doing. She said she missed me and would soon come to see me. I told her she could call me anytime she was ready. I never knew that would be the last time I’d hear her voice,” he said, breaking into silence.
When asked if Deborah had ever introduced her alleged killer, Lintex Ogale, to him, the grieving father revealed she had not.
> “Deborah was wise. She always preferred to make things official before introducing anyone to me. She would say, ‘Daddy, I’m coming to see you with my friend.’ That day never came,” Dr. Okwori said, his words a mix of pain and regret.
Now left with haunting memories and unanswered questions, Dr. Okwori insists that justice must prevail for his daughter.
PIONEER NEWS 