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Tag: Cross River State

  • Man Arrested Over Cross River Killings Says He Sought Revenge for Family Lost 29 Years Ago

    A 40-year-old man, Akaninyene Eretus, arrested in Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, has told police investigators that he killed two men in an attempt to avenge the deaths of his parents and two elder brothers during a communal conflict nearly 29 years ago.

    The suspect is currently in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where he reportedly confessed to the killings of two men identified as Okokon and Okon.

    Suspect Explains Motive

    According to the Cross River State Police Command, Eretus told detectives that he had lived with the pain of losing his family members for almost three decades and decided to take revenge.

    In his confession, he reportedly said:

    “I killed them because I could not forget my family being taken from me. For 29 years I lived with the pain. I wanted justice; I thought I could right the wrongs done to my parents and brothers.”

    Police said the killings took place on May 24 and May 25, 2026.

    How The Victims Were Killed

    The suspect further disclosed that one of the victims was allegedly killed while asleep, while the second victim was attacked with a machete.

    Authorities said two bodies believed to be those of the victims have been recovered and deposited at a hospital morgue for preservation, identification, and autopsy.

    Police Clarify Viral Claims

    The case drew widespread attention after reports emerged online about the discovery of shallow graves in a forest hideout located in Abanyama, Ukim Ita community.

    Some social media posts claimed the suspect had confessed to killing as many as 30 people.

    However, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, dismissed those reports, describing them as unverified.

    According to him, only two bodies have been recovered so far and investigations are ongoing.

    Investigation Continues

    Police authorities said further inquiries are being carried out to establish the full circumstances surrounding the killings and determine whether there are additional victims connected to the case.

    The command urged members of the public to avoid spreading unverified information while investigations remain active.

  • COVID-19 Resurfaces in Cross River After Years, State Moves to Trace Contacts

    A fresh case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Cross River State, marking the first significant infection since 2022, as health authorities begin contact tracing linked to an infected foreign national.

    How the case emerged

    The Cross River State Ministry of Health confirmed that the case involves a Chinese national who tested positive after showing symptoms weeks after arriving Nigeria.

    Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed that the patient entered the country on March 17, 2026, but began showing signs on April 10.

    He said the timeline suggests the infection may have been contracted within Nigeria after the incubation period.

    Response from authorities

    Health officials have moved swiftly, deploying teams to Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the patient lived and worked.

    Contact tracing and profiling of individuals who may have been exposed are currently ongoing.

    Ayuk urged residents to remain calm and continue their daily activities while observing basic health precautions.

    Fresh warning from WHO

    The World Health Organisation has also raised concern, noting that COVID-19 has not been eradicated globally.

    Its coordinator in the state, Yewande Olatunde, warned that new variants are still emerging and advised Nigerians to remain vigilant.

    Background

    The development comes years after the global pandemic that disrupted economies and claimed millions of lives.

    In Nigeria, about 3,000 deaths were recorded, according to official data.