Nigerian woman found dead in Cyprus apartment was beaten with a broom stick: Three Nigerian women arrested

Limassol — The death of 30-year-old Nigerian national Victory Osarumen Thompson, who was found dead in a Germasogeia flat in Limassol, Cyprus on Sunday morning, has been confirmed as a case of criminal homicide, according to authorities.

Police investigators said the victim had sustained multiple injuries to her body, consistent with a violent assault. 

Forensic pathologists Angeliki Papetta and Orthodoxos Orthodoxou confirmed after an initial autopsy that the woman’s death resulted from criminal activity. A formal autopsy was scheduled for Monday.

Authorities have arrested three women, aged 24, 24, and 35, all roommates of the victim, in connection with the killing. The suspects appeared before the Limassol District Court on Monday, where investigators from the Limassol Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requested an eight-day remand, which the court granted. The 35-year-old suspect is also facing additional charges related to illegal residency.

Violent altercation after night out

According to police, the four women had been staying together in the Germasogeia flat for four days prior to the incident. Two of the suspects are reportedly in Cyprus legally, while one does not have the necessary residence permit.

Witnesses told investigators they heard shouting from the apartment in the early hours of Sunday morning. Reports suggest that the group had been out drinking at a nearby bar before returning to the flat around 5 a.m.

The suspects told police that upon their return, the victim was in an “out of control” state and allegedly attacked them. They claimed they tried to restrain her, which led to a violent confrontation.

According to statements presented in court, the first suspect, aged 24, said she had previously lived with the victim in Nicosia and that the victim was known to use illegal drugs. She alleged that the victim became aggressive, biting her during the altercation. The suspect admitted to striking the victim with her hands while the second suspect, aged 35, allegedly beat her with a broomstick.

A couple who had accompanied the women back to the apartment also allegedly became involved in the scuffle before leaving the scene, reportedly taking the victim’s mobile phone with them.

Discovery of the body

Police said the suspects claimed they believed the victim had fallen asleep after the confrontation. When one of the women found her unconscious several hours later, they attempted to revive her before calling an ambulance around 11 a.m. Paramedics confirmed her death at the scene.

Investigators found evidence of a violent struggle in the apartment, including a broken broomstick, which has been seized for forensic examination. Blood traces were reportedly cleaned before police arrived.

Ongoing investigation

Assistant Police Director and Limassol CID spokesperson Lefteris Kyriacou confirmed that the death was being treated as a murder investigation. Police are now searching for two additional individuals believed to have been present during the altercation, with arrest warrants expected to be issued once their identities are confirmed.

Authorities are expected to take at least 53 additional witness statements as part of the ongoing investigation.