Two arrested for killing and burying Akwa Ibom man

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two people over the murder of a 26-year-old man, Nsikak Joshua. He was reportedly beaten to death and buried in a shallow grave in Oboetim Ikot Ekong Village, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, shared this in a statement on Monday. She said the arrests followed an investigation into the incident.

John explained that the victim’s father, 52-year-old Ekere, reported the case to the police on July 14, 2026. He alleged that his only son was killed by Otobong Nelson, who is also known as "Efok Ikid," along with Inemesit Robert, Utibe Clement, and Victor Robert.

According to the father, the suspects brought his son’s corpse to him and forced him to show them where to bury the body. John said, “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. They forcefully demanded that he indicate where the deceased should be buried, dug a shallow grave within his compound, buried the corpse, and afterwards threatened him against reporting the incident to the police.”

After receiving the report, detectives started an immediate investigation. Acting on credible information, police operatives arrested Otobong Nelson and Utibe Clement on July 17, 2026, at about 3:45 a.m.

The PPRO said the main suspect confessed during questioning that the deceased had been summoned over threats made to a neighbor with a machete. She added, “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.”

John stated that the suspect also admitted that after the victim died, he and the others took the body to the father’s house and lied that he had been hit by a hit-and-run driver. She noted that the suspects advised the father not to take the body to a mortuary before burying it in a shallow grave on his land.

John said, “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.”

The PPRO confirmed that the victim’s remains have been exhumed and taken to a morgue for preservation and autopsy.

In response, the Commissioner of Police condemned the killing. He called it "barbaric, unlawful, and unacceptable" and ordered investigators to step up efforts to catch the other suspects still on the run.

The command also warned that anyone involved in conspiracy, unlawful assault, murder, intimidation of witnesses, or hiding evidence will face investigation and prosecution under the law.