A 49-year-old farmer, Akaniyene Ignatius, has confessed to the killing and beheading of two elderly men in Abanyama community, Creek Town, in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, claiming he carried out the attacks to avenge the deaths of his parents and brother.
Ignatius was arrested by operatives of the Cross River State Police Command following the gruesome murders of two prominent community elders, identified as 75-year-old Oko Okon and 73-year-old Okon Akpan.
The killings, which occurred on consecutive days in May, threw the riverine community into panic and reportedly forced several residents to flee their homes and farm settlements.
According to sources within the State Criminal Investigation Department, the first victim, Oko Okon, was found dead in his home on May 24, 2026. Investigators later discovered that the suspect had allegedly entered the deceased’s residence while he was asleep, strangled him, and beheaded him before dumping the body behind the house.
The source said the suspect allegedly transported the severed head to his late father’s farm settlement within the community and buried it in a shallow grave.
Less than 24 hours later, another elder, Okon Akpan, was reportedly killed similarly.
Investigators alleged that Ignatius attacked the 73-year-old from behind outside his residence in the early hours of May 25, strangled him to death, and later moved the body to his late father’s farm settlement, where it was dismembered and buried in separate shallow graves.
Police investigations reportedly gained momentum after community members identified the suspect as the last person seen with a mattress belonging to one of the deceased victims.
He was subsequently arrested by homicide detectives while allegedly attempting to sell the mattress.
Following his arrest, Ignatius reportedly led investigators to several shallow graves where body parts of the victims were recovered and later deposited at the General Hospital, Creek Town.
In a statement made during interrogation, the suspect admitted responsibility for the killings, claiming they were motivated by a long-standing desire for revenge.
“I killed the two elders because they were among the people responsible for the deaths of my brother and my parents in 1999,” he reportedly told investigators.
Ignatius said his family had been involved in a prolonged dispute dating back several decades, which he claimed resulted in the death of one of his brothers and ultimately led to the deaths of both his parents.
According to him, his brother was allegedly attacked by members of the community after being released from prison, while another sibling fled to Lagos out of fear for his life.
He further claimed that the loss of her son traumatised his mother, who later died, while his father passed away about a year afterward.
“My mother was traumatised. She became very sick and did not survive the agony of losing her son. My father died about one year after the death of his wife. He could not bear the pain of losing his son and wife within a short time,” he said.
The suspect admitted regretting his actions but said anger and grief drove him to commit the crimes.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, SP Ewa Sunday, cautioned against speculation surrounding the case, particularly reports suggesting the suspect may have been linked to the deaths of more than 30 people.
He said the police were focused on conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into the incidents.
“The unfortunate incident of the alleged serial killer case in Odukpani community quickly spread, with some sources alleging that over 30 bodies were involved in these gruesome acts.
“Our immediate concern is to ensure a thorough, professional and impartial investigation into the alleged incidents in Creek Town,” he said.
Sunday noted that although the suspect had made statements during interrogation, all claims would be subjected to verification as investigations continue.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information, assuring that the police would provide updates as more facts emerge.
The suspect remains in police custody while investigations continue.
