…Community Fears More Killings by Others at Large, Tasks Police
…Residents Demand Harsh Punishment for Suspects, Accomplices
By Joseph Kingston
Communities in Odukpani local government of Cross River state have been thrown into fear and anger following the arrest of a man suspected of involvement in multiple killings, as police intensify investigations into what residents describe as a pattern of brutal attacks.
Penultimate week, security agencies had arrested and detained a 40-year-old Akaninyene Ignatius Eshiet for allegedly killing Mr Okon Bassey Okon Nsa of Ukim Ita and Mr Okokon Akpan Eshiet of Akai Ibonda, all in Odukpani local government area. He was said to have confessed of killing no fewer than 30 individuals
Our reporter, who was at the crime scenes, Ukim Ita and the deserted Utu Idim communities, last week, said the unwholesome deed came to the open in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, 2026, when Bassey-Anwan, a daughter to the slain Okon Bassey, raise an alarm after discovering his father was missing alongside his sleeping mattresses, handsets, MP3 and other belongings.
Utu Idim is a once-inhabited secluded place in Odukpani bush, not far from the popular Creek Town beach. The natives, PillarToday learnt, had deserted the community for reasons villagers linked to activities of the Eshiet’s family.
Even with motorbikes, accessing the deserted community is very challenging. The only seeming sign of life there is the now demolished homestead of the suspect.
Sources in the community said as soon as Bassey-Anwan raise the alarm, the youths of the area sprang into action and allegedly traced the missing items to Akaninyene’s abode after which military personnel, stationed at Creek Town beach, were contacted.
The military men, without wasting time, had also sprang into action. They arrested the suspect, together with his brother, Nkereuwem and a lady, Uduak Essien, believed to be the suspect’s girlfriend. They were then handed over to the Police.
Thereafter, Akaninyene, our sources said, took the combined forces of the Police and military to the shallow graves where he buried his victims’ remains, heads and other body parts which he had earlier severed after killing them.
Suspect Says Killing was to Avenge Parents’ Deaths
The Police had said the suspect confessed to the killings, claiming his actions were motivated by a desire to avenge the deaths of his parents and two elder brothers who, he alleged, were killed during a communal crisis that occurred in the area about 29 years ago – a claim the chiefs of the community vehemently disputed.
The Police added that the suspect admitted during interrogation to killing two men on May 24 and May 25, 2026, respectively.
Community Leader Debunks Akaninyene’s Claims of Avenging Parents’ Deaths Killed in Communal Clashes
In a chat with our reporter at Utu Idim, the crime scene, Chief Samuel Ekpe Ita, village head of Ukim Ita community, debunked Akaninyene’s claims that his action was a revenge for his parents’ deaths.
“The killer’s grandfather is reported to have beheaded his own wife in Ikot Ekpene and ran to Utu Idim as an unknown fugitive over 50 years ago
“His father died at an old age of natural causes a few years ago and was taken to their village, Ikot Atasung Ikot Obong Otoro, Ekpuk Nto Udo in Ikot Ekpene local government area of Akwa Ibom State where they buried him. His mother left his father many years ago and is said to have died somewhere in Akwa Ibom.
“The killer’s brother died in Lagos. The man was alleged to have been an armed robber and ritual killer. His wife and his two children came back. Unfortunately, when his brothers, including the killer, heard of his death, they came and sold all his property which the wife had brought back home with. She then left with her children and went back to her parents in Akwa Ibom.
“There has been no communal clash involving the killer or any of his family members, and he is not even from Utu Idim,” he stated.
Chief Ita added that his people were demanding the harshest possible punishment for the culprits so as to serve as a deterrence, prevent further violence in the affected communities and restore confidence among residents already shaken by the reported killings.
The community leader also raise an alarm over the reported escape of Monday, a brother to the suspect, and noted that as far as the runaway man was lurking around the community, “nobody is really safe.”
He urged security agencies to intensify manhunt operations to track down all suspects connected to the case, including Monday, stressing that any delay could worsen insecurity in the area.
While appealing to authorities never to allow the suspects back into the community or anywhere in Odukpani, the Chief noted that their continuous presence constitutes a serious danger to the people of the council area.
“We are told that the suspect openly said he has a list of names of people he would kill when he returns from Police custody. If the government decides to release him and his collaborators, please, they should be sent back to where they come from.
“We observed that many of those close to him in the village, I mean his relatives, friends and acquaintances, escaped as soon as he was arrested. He may not have been operating alone. The security agencies should intensify investigations and ensure that all individuals linked to the killings are brought to justice.
“A strong legal response, either capital punishment or life imprisonment, would serve as a deterrent to others and help reassure the public,” he submitted.
Woman Assisted Akaninyene in the Killings
Our source also said the suspect confessed that a woman assisted him in carrying out the killings by restraining victims while he slit their throats and that she also lured unsuspecting persons to the isolated location where they were murdered.
It could not be ascertained whether or not the said woman is the lady arrested and detained with the suspect.
Unconfirmed reports say another brother of the detained suspect, simply referred to as Monday, who is alleged to have been involved in similar activities, is at large.
Residents Narrate Ugly Tale, Allege Suspect Not Working Alone
Also speaking, the youth leader of the community, Okon Effiong Okon, suspected that the suspects may not have been working alone.
He said body parts, limbs, heads and the main body of the two victims were discovered on May 28, 2026, in separate shallow graves close to the suspect’s solitary compound in the deserted Utu-Idim.
Okon said the suspect, when apprehended, confessed to have killed seven persons in recent time but that only two bodies were discovered.
In his reaction, a resident, Mr Oku Ekpenyong Oku, who claimed to come originally from Utu Idim but was displaced due to activities of the suspects’ family, said all Utu Idim natives left the area and are now living in other communities.
“Utu Idim Esien Ekpe Oku was a vibrant community but has now become uninhabitable except for the house of Manager (the nickname of the suspects’ father) which is now the only house there now.
“Their violent conduct drove everyone away. I’m settling now here in Ukim Ita and only go to Utu Idim for farming,” he stated.
Another resident, who gave his name simply as Offiong, told our reporter: “People allege that they kill and eat their victims. To them, killing and dismembering their victims is a hobby.
“Just as their great grandfather and father were, all of them are native doctors. They have a family native Doctor book which their great grandfather left behind and which they use in their nefarious activities. Their grandfather and father used their evil powers to destroy Utu Idim.”
He also alleged that the suspects may have a gang of killers for reasons that cannot be explained, and that going by the display of great physical strength by the detained Akaninyene on the day of his arrest, “it is either he’s high on psychotropic drugs or is highly possessed by strong demonic forces.”
Victim’s Daughter Cries Out for justice, Tasks Governor Otu
Bassey-Anwan Okon Bassey, a daughter to one of the slain victims, who also spoke, said her father visited her before returning home only to be killed the same day, saying the only justice that would pacify the family was capital punishment.
She called on Governor Bassey Otu to step into the matter, adding, “I appeal to our beloved Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, to come to our aid. Let the Governor also ensure that those people do not return to our community or anywhere in Odukpani.”
Serial Killer’s Modes of Operation Disclosed
The suspect reportedly told investigators, during interrogation, that one of the victims was attacked and killed while asleep, while the second was hacked to death with a machete.
Our reporter further gathered that the serial killer would strangulate his victim with a rope tight to his victims’ neck and then slaughter the victim after he might have given up the ghost.
The rope and matchets purportedly used in the killing were sited at the demolished premises of the Eshiets at Utu Idim.
Speaking, our source, Offiong said “He strangulated Mr Okon Bassey Okon in the man’s compound, removed his head, and then carried the man’s head and the body, walking the almost two kilometres route, to his own house in Utu Idim bush where he cut off Mr Okon’s hands and limbs.
“As I said earlier, those guys do not qualify to live among normal humans, they are heartless. If you see the way he jacked up the headless body of the man he killed from the pit where he dumped him even with the handcuffs on him, you’ll know that the man is not an ordinary human.”
Growing Fear of Second Suspect and fleeing Accomplices
The alleged escape of the second individual, Monday, and other suspected accomplices has deepened anxiety in the affected areas.
Residents, who claimed to now sleep with one eye open, said the fear is not only about past incidents, but also about possible reprisals or continuation of the alleged pattern of killings.
Police Insist Investigations Ongoing
However, in a chat with Journalists over the matter, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the Police Relation Officer for Cross River State command, said the detained serial killer and his accomplices would be charged to court as soon as the Police complete their investigations. The police said Akaninyene was assisting in the investigation.
On the Akaninyene’s confession that he killed to avenge father’s death, the Police Spokesman warned against taking everything Akaninyene said, hooks, lines and sinkers.
“The statements made by the suspect remain allegations that are subject to thorough investigation and verification,” he told Journalists.
So far, authorities have not done detailed consistent public briefing on the case as expected, but efforts are believed to be ongoing to track down any additional suspects and secure affected communities.
Residents Task Authorities on Improved Security
Meanwhile, residents are calling for improved intelligence gathering, faster response mechanisms, and stronger community policing structures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As investigations continue, the case remains under close public watch. For many residents, the priority is not only punishment for those found guilty, but also assurance that the remaining suspects—if indeed at large—are quickly apprehended before further harm can occur.
