The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Ndifreke Nelson for allegedly killing his girlfriend and stealing her mobile phone after the murder.
A statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John and made available to journalists in Uyo, on Monday, stated that the victim identified as Emem Effanga was found dead in her apartment under suspicious circumstances.
The statement reads in parts: “Sometime in February 2025, the command received a report that the deceased was found dead in her apartment under suspicious circumstances.
“Upon arrival at the scene, operatives observed visible marks of violence on her face and neck, suggesting she had been strangled and beaten to death.
“The scene was processed, evidence documented, and the body was evacuated to the hospital, where she was confirmed clinically dead by medical personnel. The corpse was thereafter deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
Timfon said the matter was followed up with swift investigations as detectives traced the last person seen with the deceased to be the suspect, Ndifreke Nelson, who had visited her residence in the morning.
She explained that the suspect was later tracked to a church in Uyo, where he attempted to escape upon sighting police operatives but was immediately pursued and apprehended.
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According to the police spokesperson, during interrogation, the suspect confessed to visiting the victim that morning and demanded to use the victim’s phone to take pictures for his birthday celebration on social media.
She said when the victim refused, a struggle ensued, during which he overpowered, strangled her with his hands and struck her head on the floor with fist blows, leaving her unconscious before fleeing with her phone.
“One Itel Super phone, belonging to the deceased, was recovered from him at the time of arrest. A postmortem examination has been conducted, and the cause of death has been officially documented by a pathologist. The suspect will be charged to court,” she added.
According to her, the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, has assured that justice will be served and warned against all forms of domestic violence and criminal acts.
