Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Ndifreke Nelson for allegedly beating his lover, Emem Effanga, to death in her apartment over a dispute involving a mobile phone.
The police spokesperson, Timfon John, in a statement on Monday, confirmed the arrest, revealing that Nelson was apprehended in a church in Uyo while attempting to evade law enforcement.
According to the police, the crime occurred in February 2025, when Effanga, 39, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her residence.
John said upon arriving at the scene, officers observed visible signs of violence on her face and neck, suggesting she had been beaten and strangled.
“The scene was processed, evidence documented, and the body was evacuated to the hospital, where medical personnel confirmed her death. The corpse was subsequently deposited at the mortuary for autopsy,” John stated.
He noted that Nelson allegedly stole the victim’s mobile phone after the murder, which formed part of the investigation that led to his arrest.
The statement read, “Following swift investigations, detectives traced the last person seen with the deceased to be Ndifreke Nelson, who had visited her residence on February 6, 2025, the morning of his birthday.
“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, and when she refused, a struggle ensued, during which he overpowered her, strangled her and struck her head on the floor with his fist, leaving her unconscious before fleeing with her phone.”
He said, “One Itel Super Phone, belonging to the deceased, was recovered from him at the time of arrest. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and the cause of death has been officially documented by a pathologist. The suspect will be charged to court.”
“The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, has assured that justice will be served and warned against all forms of domestic violence and criminal acts. He urges the public to remain security conscious and report suspicious activities to the Police,” John added.
