Man Confesses: I Got N500,000 to Bath Spa Worker with Acid

The victim and the apprehended suspect, Zakari

Man Confesses: I Got N500,000 to Bath Spa Worker with Acid

LAGOS, Nigeria – A 37-year-old man, Ziaulihak Zakari, also known as Abuja, has confessed to receiving N500,000 to carry out a brutal acid attack on a female spa worker in the Lakowe area of Lagos State. However, in a shocking twist, Zakari admitted that he mistakenly assaulted the wrong person. The suspect, who was arrested on March 19, 2026, revealed that he was hired by another man, Owolabi Daniel, to pour acid on the spa owner, Olorunmaye Ifeoluwa, following a failed romantic relationship. Instead, the victim – Olorunseunfunmi Awosogbon – an innocent staff member, sustained severe burns to her head, chest, and hands. The attack, which occurred on October 25, 2025, has sparked outrage over the rising incidence of acid violence in Nigeria and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of Lagos State criminal laws in prosecuting such heinous acts.

According to reports from PUNCH Metro, the victim had honoured a home service request booked through the spa where she worked. The appointment was scheduled at Lakowe Golf Gate, near Utmost Care Hospital. Upon arrival in a ride-hailing vehicle, Zakari allegedly approached her and poured a corrosive substance on her. She was not the intended target. Her employer, Ifeoluwa, explained that the attack stemmed from a brief relationship she had with Daniel. The relationship lasted only a few months and was riddled with disagreements before it ended. After she ended things, Daniel allegedly began sending threatening WhatsApp messages, warning that she would be harmed. “I later told him I needed space and that the relationship would not work. He continued to reach out, but I made it clear I did not want to continue,” Ifeoluwa told PUNCH Metro.

READ ALSO:

In a video obtained by journalists, Zakari detailed how he was recruited for the job through a security guard who connected him to Daniel. He stated, “There is a man named Daniel who contacted me through a security guard and told me he had a job. When he said he needed someone to pour acid on a person, I agreed. I couldn’t carry it out the first time because I was scared. When another opportunity came, I mistook the target and attacked the wrong person. The acid was procured by the man and the security guard. I was paid N500,000 for the job and gave the security guard N50,000 for linking me up.” He expressed regret but admitted that the attack was financially motivated.

Both Zakari and Owolabi Daniel (25) have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ebute-Metta on charges including conspiracy, threat to life, and causing bodily harm, under Sections 411, 232, and 246 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. However, the victim’s lawyer, John Olobayo, has criticized the charges as too lenient, arguing that attempted murder or grievous bodily harm with corrosive substances should have been applied. “We believe more serious charges should be considered based on the available information,” Olobayo stated, adding that applications have been filed with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

Despite the arrests, Ifeoluwa claims that threatening messages have continued, including one that read: “I’m going to kill you soon. You deserve to be in a grave.” Meanwhile, the father of the primary suspect, Mr. Owolabi, revealed that he sold his residence to pay for the victim’s medical bills. “To make the payment, I sold my residence. I’m not sure what else is expected of us,” he said in Yoruba. The victim, Awosogbon, is still undergoing medical procedures and could not be reached for comment.