Police arrest two murder suspects, exhume corpse in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Police Command says its operatives have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged conspiracy and murder of a 26-year-old man, late Nsikak Joshua, in Oboetim Ikot Ekong Village, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Monday.

John said the case was reported at the police station on 14th July 2026 by the father of the deceased,  Mr. Ekere, aged 52.

Parts of the statement read, “He alleged that his only son was beaten to death by one Otobong Nelson, also known as “Efok Ikid,” alongside Inemesit Robert, Utibe Clement, and Victor Robert, all residents of the same village.

“The complainant further stated that on 14th July 2026 at about 8:40 a.m., the suspects allegedly brought the corpse of his son to his residence armed with spades, forcefully demanded that he indicate where the deceased should be buried, dug a shallow grave within his compound, buried the corpse, and thereafter threatened him against reporting the incident to the Police.

“Upon receipt of the report, detectives commenced immediate investigation. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives arrested Otobong Nelson and Utibe Clement on 17th July 2026 at about 3:45 a.m.

“During interrogation, the first suspect, Otobong Nelson, made a confessional statement in which he admitted that the deceased had been summoned to answer an allegation of threatening a neighbour with a machete. He further confessed that he ordered his subjects, identified as Utibe Clement, Victor Robert, and Inemesit Robert, to assault the deceased with sticks, which resulted in his death.

“The suspect also confessed that after the victim died, he and others conveyed the corpse to the deceased’s father’s compound and falsely informed him that his son had been knocked down by a hit-and-run vehicle. They allegedly advised the father not to take the body to the mortuary, after which the corpse was buried in a shallow grave within the compound.”

Following police intervention, the remains of the deceased were exhumed and deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy.

The spokesperson added that the Commissioner of Police has condemned the act in the strongest terms and directed that the ongoing investigation be intensified to ensure the arrest of all other suspects currently at large.