By Patrick Odey
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have exhumed the remains of a 26-year-old man, Nsikak Joshua, and arrested four suspects in connection with the deceased’s murder in the state.
A statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in Uyo on Tuesday said the death of the deceased, who hailed from Oboetim Ikot Ekong Village, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state, was reported to the command by his father, a 52-year-old man, on July 14, 2026, at about 8:30pm.
The deceased’s father alleged in the statement that his son was beaten to death by his assailants, Otobong Nelson, also known as “Efok Ikid,” Inemesit Robert, Utibe Clement, and Victor Robert, all residents of the same village.
According to the statement, the deceased’s father alleged that the suspects brought his son’s corpse to his residence armed with spades, forcefully dug a shallow grave within his compound, buried the corpse, and threatened to deal with him if he reported the incident to the police.
The statement further stated that upon receipt of the report, operatives swiftly mobilised and arrested the suspects on July 17, 2026, adding that during interrogation, the first suspect, Otobong Nelson, made a confessional statement admitting that the deceased had been summoned to answer an allegation of threatening a neighbour with a machete.
He further confessed that he ordered his accomplices, 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 his accomplices 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 advised him not to take the corpse to the mortuary; consequently, it was buried in a shallow grave in the father’s compound.
The statement stated, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged conspiracy and gruesome murder of a 26-year-old man, late Nsikak Joshua, in Oboetim Ikot Ekong Village, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state.
“The case was reported at the police station on July 14, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m. by Mr Ekere, aged 52 years, the father of the deceased. He alleged that his only son was beaten to death by 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 July 14, 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 an immediate investigation. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives arrested Otobong Nelson and Utibe Clement on July 17, 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 mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, condemned the act as barbaric and unlawful while reassuring the public that anyone involved in conspiracy, unlawful assault, murder, intimidation of witnesses, or concealment of evidence would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
