I beheaded two elders to avenge my parents’ deaths — C’River farmer

A 49-year-old farmer, Akaniyene Ignatius, has confessed to killing and beheading two elderly men in Abanyama community, Creek Town, in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Ignatius claimed that he carried out the attacks to avenge the deaths of his parents and brother.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the suspect was arrested by the police in the state following the gruesome killings of two prominent elders, identified as 75-year-old Oko Okon and 73-year-old Okon Akpan.

It was gathered that the first victim, Okon, was found dead in his home on May 24, with no immediate clue as to the identity of his killer.

Before residents could recover from the shock, Akpan was also murdered in a similar manner the following day.

The incident, however, reportedly heightened tension in the riverine community and forced many residents to flee their homes and farm settlements.

The source said, “It started on May 24, 2026, when he went to the house of Oko Okon in Abanyama, Creek Town, where he met the man sleeping in his room. He strangled and killed the 75-year-old, who lived alone.

He not only killed him but also beheaded him and dumped the body behind the deceased’s house.

“He thereafter took the severed head to his late father’s farm settlement in the same Abanyama community and buried it in a shallow grave.”

The source added that the suspect struck again the following day.

“On May 25, he went to the house of another elder, Okon Akpan, a 73-year-old man in the same community. He entered through the backyard and met the deceased in front of his house around 5:20am.

“He held him from behind and strangled him to death. He thereafter moved the body to his late father’s farm settlement, where he dismembered it and buried the different parts in separate shallow graves,” the source added.

According to the source, the suspect’s alleged crimes were uncovered after members of the community identified him as the person last seen with a mattress belonging to one of the deceased.

Operatives of the homicide section subsequently arrested him while he was allegedly attempting to sell the mattress.

Following his arrest, the suspect reportedly led detectives to several shallow graves where body parts of the victims were exhumed and later deposited at the General Hospital, Creek Town.

In a confessional statement obtained by Saturday PUNCH, Akaniyene confessed to the killings during interrogation.

He stated that the motive for the crime was that the two elders were among those responsible for the deaths of his parents and brother many years ago.

“I am a farmer and I am 49 years old. I killed the two elders because they were among the people responsible for the deaths of my brother and my parents in 1999.

“We are from Akwa Ibom State, but my parents had lived in Cross River for many years. I was even born in Abanyama,” he said.

The suspect alleged that the tragedy stemmed from a longstanding family dispute involving his father and two elder brothers, Kokoite and Ekperite.

According to him, his father repeatedly complained to community leaders about the conduct of the two brothers, who were eventually arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned.

He claimed that after their release from prison and despite efforts by the police to restore peace, members of the community allegedly attacked one of the brothers again.

“They shot him and inflicted machete cuts on him. My other brother escaped to Lagos because he feared he would be killed too,” he alleged.

Akaniyene further claimed that the death of his brother devastated his mother, who later died, while his father passed away about a year afterwards.

“After the death of Ekperite, 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.

“I was left alone in the village and I vowed to avenge the deaths of my parents and brother, which I eventually did. Though I regret doing it now, it was anger that pushed me to do it,” he said.

Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, Ewa Sunday, said reports linking the suspect to the killing of more than 30 persons remained unverified.

He said, “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.

“While the suspect is currently in custody and has made certain statements during interrogation, these remain subject to verification. The matter is under active investigation.

“We urge the public to remain calm, avoid speculation and allow investigators to do their work. Further developments will be communicated.”