Officers of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have exhumed the body of a 26-year-old man, Nsikak Joshua and arrested four suspects over alleged murder in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo on Tuesday.

According to John, the incident was reported to the police on July 14, 2026, by the victim’s 52-year-old father, who alleged that his only son was beaten to death by four men identified as Otobong Nelson, popularly known as ‘Efok Ikid’, Inemesit Robert, Utibe Clement and Victor Robert.

The complainant alleged that after the victim died, the suspects brought his body to his residence, armed with spades, compelled him to indicate where the corpse should be buried, dug a shallow grave within the compound and buried the body before threatening him against reporting the matter to the police.

The police boss said detectives immediately launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of Otobong Nelson and Utibe Clement on July 17, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

During interrogation, Nelson reportedly confessed that the deceased had been summoned to answer allegations of threatening a neighbour with a machete.

John said Nelson admitted ordering the other suspects to assault Joshua with sticks, resulting in injuries that led to his death.

The police further stated that the suspect confessed that after the victim died, they transported the body to his father’s residence and falsely claimed he had been killed in a hit-and-run accident.

They also allegedly persuaded the father not to take the body to the mortuary before burying it in a shallow grave within the family compound.

The statement read in part, “Upon receipt of the report, detectives commenced immediate investigation. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives arrested Otobong Nelson and Utibe Clement on July 17, 2026. During interrogation, the first suspect, Otobong Nelson, made a confessional statement in which he admitted that the deceased had been summoned to answer an allegation of threatening a neighbour with a machete.

“He further confessed that he ordered his accomplices, identified as Utibe Clement, Victor Robert and Inemesit Robert, to assault the deceased with sticks, which resulted in his death.

“The suspect also confessed that after the victim died, he and others conveyed the corpse to the deceased’s father’s compound and falsely informed him that his son had been knocked down by a hit-and-run vehicle. They allegedly advised the father not to take the body to the mortuary, after which the corpse was buried in a shallow grave within the compound.

“Following police intervention, the remains of the deceased were exhumed and deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy.”

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Azare, described the alleged killing as barbaric and unacceptable.

He assured residents that everyone found to have participated in the alleged conspiracy, assault, murder, intimidation of witnesses or concealment of evidence would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in line with the law.