A 49-year-old farmer, Akaniyene Ignatius, has confessed to killing and beheading two elderly men, Oko Okon and Okon Akpan, in Abanyama community, Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, saying the act was in revenge for the alleged killing of his parents and brother decades ago.
The suspect, who is currently in police custody, was arrested following the brutal killing of the two community elders, aged 75 and 73 respectively, with investigators detailing how the incidents unfolded in May 2026.
According to the State Criminal Investigation Department, the first victim, Oko Okon, was killed on May 24, 2026.
He was allegedly attacked inside his home while asleep, strangled and later beheaded.
His body was reportedly dumped behind his residence, while his severed head was buried in a shallow grave at the suspect’s late father’s farm settlement.
The second victim, Okon Akpan, was allegedly killed the following day.
He was said to have been attacked around 5:20 a.m. on May 25 after the suspect gained access to his compound through the backyard.
He was allegedly strangled and his body later taken to the same farm settlement where it was dismembered and buried in separate shallow graves.
The killings sparked panic in the riverine community, forcing residents to flee their homes and farmlands over fears of further attacks.
A police source said the suspect was linked to the crimes after residents identified him as the last person seen with a mattress belonging to one of the victims.
He was later arrested while allegedly attempting to sell the said mattress.
During interrogation, he reportedly led detectives to shallow graves where the remains of the victims were recovered and taken to the General Hospital in Creek Town.
In his confession, Ignatius said he targeted the elders because he believed they were involved in the killing of his parents and brother in 1999.
“I killed the two elders because they were among the people responsible for the deaths of my brother and my parents in 1999,” he said.
He alleged that a long-standing family dispute led to the arrest and imprisonment of his elder brothers after his father reported them to community leaders.
He further claimed that after their release, one of his brothers was attacked and killed, while the other fled to Lagos.
Ignatius said the trauma from the deaths of his family members led to his mother’s illness and eventual death, followed by his father’s demise.
“My mother could not survive the pain of losing her son. My father also died after losing both his wife and son. I was left alone and vowed to avenge them,” he added.
He, however, expressed regret over the killings, saying anger pushed him into committing the acts.
Reacting to viral claims suggesting the suspect may have been linked to over 30 killings, the Cross River State Police Command dismissed the reports as unverified.
Police spokesperson, Superintendent Ewa Sunday, said the suspect’s statements remain under investigation.
“The suspect is currently in custody and has made certain statements during interrogation, but these claims remain subject to verification,” he said.
He added that investigations are ongoing and urged the public to avoid speculation while the probe continues.
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