Men of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested a 32-year-old man, Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson, for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga, 39, and the theft of her mobile phone.
According to a press release by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the deceased was discovered dead in her apartment in February 2025 under suspicious circumstances. Investigators observed visible signs of violence on her face and neck, suggesting she had been strangled and beaten to death.
Detectives traced the last person seen with the deceased to be the suspect, who had visited her residence on February 6, the morning of his birthday. Upon being tracked to a church in Uyo, he attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by the police.
During interrogation, Nelson admitted to visiting Effanga and demanding to use her phone to take birthday pictures for social media. When she refused, a struggle ensued, and he allegedly strangled her, struck her head on the floor, and fled with her phone. The stolen phone was recovered at the time of his arrest.
A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death, and the suspect is set to be charged in court. The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, reassured the public that justice would be served and warned against domestic violence, urging citizens to report suspicious activities to the police.
This incident underscores the importance of vigilance in personal relationships and community security.
