By Augustine Ehikioya
For allegedly murdering his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga, ‘F’, 39, and stealing her mobile phone after the crime, operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested one Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson, ‘m’, 32.
The Command, sometime in February 2025, had received a report that the deceased was found dead in her apartment under suspicious circumstances.
Upon arrival at the scene, a statement by DSP Timfon John, Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), said 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, it said, was thereafter deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The statement added, “Following swift investigations, detectives traced the last person seen with the deceased to be Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson, who had visited her residence on 6th February, 2025, the morning of his birthday.
“The suspect was later tracked to a church in Uyo, where he attempted to escape upon sighting Police operatives but was swiftly pursued and apprehended.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to visiting the victim that morning and demanding to use her phone to take pictures for his birthday celebration on social media. When she refused, a struggle ensued, during which he overpowered her, 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 post-mortem examination it said has been conducted, and the cause of death has been officially documented by a pathologist.
The suspect, according to the statement, will be charged to court.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has assured that justice will be served and warned against all forms of domestic violence and criminal acts.
He urged the public to remain security conscious and report suspicious activities to the Police.