How 49-Year-Old Farmer Waited 27 Years to Avenge Parents’ Death in Cross River

For decades, the quiet riverine community of Abanyama in Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, was known as a peaceful settlement where neighbours coexisted like one big family. But that tranquillity was shattered in late May 2026 when two prominent elders were brutally murdered in their homes, triggering panic and forcing residents to flee. The nightmare that gripped the community has now been traced to a 49-year-old farmer, Akaniyene Ignatius, who allegedly confessed to the killings—not as a random act of violence, but as a carefully planned revenge mission nearly three decades in the making.

The first killing occurred on May 24, 2026, when 75-year-old Oko Okon, one of the community’s respected elders, was found dead in his home. The elderly man had not only been murdered but also beheaded, with his assailant making away with his head. Residents were still in shock when tragedy struck again the very next day. On May 25, 2026, 73-year-old Okon Akpan was also killed in a similarly gruesome manner. This time, the attacker reportedly took the entire body, leaving behind only pools of blood in the victim’s compound.

The back-to-back killings sent waves of fear through the creek settlement. A resident who identified himself as Ekpeyong recounted the palpable terror, explaining that when the first elder was killed, the community initially thought it was an isolated incident. But when another elder was murdered the following day in almost the same manner, everybody became afraid, with every stranger becoming a suspect and every noise at night sending fear into their hearts. Many people abandoned their farms and relocated temporarily to neighbouring communities, unsure of who would be the next target. For days, the community lived in suspense. Rumours spread like wildfire across creek settlements about a serial killer on the loose, with some unverified claims suggesting that more than 30 people had fallen victim. But when operatives of the Cross River State Police Command finally arrested a suspect, the mystery gave way to an even more disturbing revelation.

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The breakthrough came after community members linked Akaniyene Ignatius to a mattress allegedly taken from one of the victims’ homes. According to Ekpeyong, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) apprehended the suspect while he was reportedly trying to sell the stolen item. Under interrogation, Ignatius allegedly confessed to the killings and led police officers to his late father’s farm settlement in Abanyama, where he had concealed the remains. What investigators discovered was chilling: in the case of Oko Okon, the suspect strangled and beheaded the elderly man, dumping the headless body behind the victim’s house while burying the severed head in a shallow grave on his late father’s farm. For Okon Akpan, Ignatius moved the entire body to the same farm settlement, dismembered it, and buried various body parts in separate shallow graves scattered around the area. Police later exhumed the remains and evacuated them to the General Hospital in Creek Town. Residents were stunned. Ekpeyong expressed the community’s disbelief, noting that many found it difficult to reconcile the soft-spoken farmer they greeted daily with the weight of the allegations against him, as they had always known him as a calm person.

When detectives pressed him for a motive, Ignatius reportedly dropped a bombshell: he had been nursing a grudge for 27 years. The suspect, who claims to be originally from Akwa Ibom State but born and raised in Abanyama, narrated a tragic family history that he said drove him to vengeance. According to his confession, his two brothers—Kokoite and Ekperite—had a long-standing feud with their father. The situation escalated when a dispute arose over who should be served food first during a meal, with one brother insisting on being served before their father—a breach of family custom. Their father reported the matter to community elders, who had previously intervened in the family’s disputes. The brothers were eventually arrested, taken to court, and sent to prison. After their release, Ignatius claimed the community turned against them again. His brother Ekperite was allegedly attacked, shot, and hacked with machetes in what the suspect described as a vigilante mob action. His other brother, Kokoite, fled to Lagos in fear for his life. The trauma proved too much for his parents. Ignatius said his mother fell sick and died shortly after, followed soon by his father, who could not bear losing both his wife and son. He told investigators that he was left alone in the village, and the deaths left a wound that never healed, prompting him to vow to avenge the deaths of his parents and brother, which he eventually did. He added, with what appeared to be remorse, that he regretted what he did and that it was anger that pushed him.

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Ignatius reportedly told investigators that the two elders he killed—Oko Okon and Okon Akpan—were among those he held responsible for the deaths of his family members. He claimed they played key roles in the community’s actions against his brothers decades ago. For nearly three decades, he allegedly harboured his vengeance plan, waiting for the right moment to strike. When he finally acted, he did so with chilling precision, targeting two of the community’s most prominent figures on consecutive days.

Reacting to the arrest and confession, the spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, confirmed that the suspect remains in custody as detectives continue their investigation. He, however, moved quickly to dismiss unverified social media claims that the suspect was responsible for the deaths of more than 30 people. The police spokesman explained that although the unfortunate incident quickly generated widespread attention with several unverified claims being circulated, their immediate concern was to ensure a thorough, professional and impartial investigation into the incidents. ASP Sunday stressed that although Ignatius had made far-reaching confessional statements, every claim would be subjected to careful scrutiny and verification before any final conclusions are drawn.

As of Thursday, June 18, 2026, the atmosphere of fear that once enveloped Abanyama is gradually giving way to cautious relief. Families who fled their homes are beginning to return. Farmers are making their way back to their farmlands, and the once-deserted footpaths are slowly coming alive again. However, the psychological scars may take much longer to heal. Residents now wonder how a man they considered calm and harmless could have harboured such deep bitterness for nearly three decades—and how a community dispute from 27 years ago could culminate in such gruesome bloodshed.

This tragic incident raises difficult questions about vigilante justice, the role of community elders in conflict resolution, and the lasting damage of unresolved grievances. For 27 years, Ignatius reportedly carried the weight of his family’s destruction. When he finally acted, two men—in his eyes, not innocent—paid with their lives. The case serves as a sobering reminder that justice delayed can become vengeance—and vengeance, as the residents of Abanyama have painfully learned, comes at a devastating cost.

How 49-Year-Old Farmer Waited 27 Years to Avenge Parents’ Death in Cross River

Acquitted Diezani Accuses UK Authorities of Destroying Her Reputation

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has accused British authorities of destroying her reputation and integrity after she was acquitted of all bribery charges brought against her following a 13-year investigation and a lengthy court battle in the United Kingdom.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC after a jury at Southwark Crown Court cleared her of multiple corruption-related charges, the former oil minister described the ordeal as traumatic and said the investigation had a devastating impact on her personal and professional life.

“I’ve not been allowed to travel. I’ve not been allowed to work. They destroyed my reputation and my integrity,” Alison-Madueke said.

The verdict marked the end of one of the most high-profile corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official in the UK. The 65-year-old was found not guilty of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery after a trial that examined allegations dating back more than a decade.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) had alleged that Alison-Madueke received luxury benefits from oil executives seeking lucrative government contracts during her tenure as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.

According to prosecutors, the former minister benefited from expensive gifts and services, including luxury shopping, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private travel arrangements, and the use of high-end properties in London and Buckinghamshire.

However, Alison-Madueke consistently denied the allegations and maintained throughout the proceedings that she had done nothing wrong.

Reflecting on the impact of the case, she said the years-long investigation left deep emotional scars.

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“When your freedom is taken away from you, it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically,” she said.

“I knew that I had never done anything nefarious and I had never done any of the heinous things I was being accused of doing.”

Alison-Madueke was first arrested in 2015 but was not formally charged until 2023. The trial, which attracted significant attention in both Nigeria and the UK, finally concluded with her acquittal, bringing an end to a legal process that spanned more than a decade.

During the proceedings, her defence team argued that critical documents that could have helped establish her innocence had disappeared in Nigeria.

According to Alison-Madueke, the missing records included receipts and financial documents showing that payments allegedly made on her behalf by oil businessmen had been reimbursed.

She claimed the documents were taken from her Abuja residence during investigations conducted in 2015 and have not been recovered.

“Those items were taken away by our intelligence forces from my home in Abuja,” she said, adding that she had no knowledge of what later happened to them.

The former minister also received support from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who reportedly wrote to the court explaining that it was not unusual for third parties to cover accommodation and transportation costs for ministers during official overseas engagements.

Asked who should be held responsible for her ordeal, Alison-Madueke said accountability extended beyond a single institution.

“There’s a bit of blame everywhere,” she said.

She also urged Nigerian authorities to review the processes used in handling corruption investigations and prosecutions.

The former minister further suggested that she may have been unfairly targeted because of her position and reform efforts within Nigeria’s oil sector.

Alison-Madueke, who became the first female Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria and the first female President of OPEC, claimed the NCA treated her as “low-hanging fruit” while ignoring the challenges she faced in confronting entrenched interests in the petroleum industry.

“The long arm of the law when you go into other countries, particularly in politically motivated cases, needs to have a lot more sensitivity,” she said.

Responding to the verdict, the NCA defended its actions, stating that the investigation was conducted professionally and impartially.

The agency said the case involved a “long-running, in-depth and complex investigation” that was regularly reviewed by prosecutors and investigators, adding that it respected the jury’s decision.

The acquittal also extended to Alison-Madueke’s elder brother, Archbishop Doye Agama, who was cleared of conspiracy to commit bribery, as well as oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who was found not guilty of bribery-related offences.

Despite her legal victory in the UK, Alison-Madueke remains linked to separate asset recovery proceedings in Nigeria and the United States.

In 2023, the US Department of Justice recovered approximately $53 million in assets connected to two oil businessmen named in the wider corruption investigation. American authorities alleged that Alison-Madueke used her influence to facilitate the award of oil contracts to companies associated with the businessmen.

The former minister has denied any wrongdoing and noted that she was never charged in connection with that matter.

Similarly, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced in 2022 that it had recovered about $153 million and more than 80 properties allegedly linked to Alison-Madueke.

Reacting to those claims, she insisted that the forfeited assets were not directly traced to her and indicated that she would seek clarification on the matter following her acquittal.

Describing the conclusion of the UK trial as the end of a painful chapter, Alison-Madueke said the prolonged legal battle had taken a significant toll on her family and those close to her.

“For 11 long years, this case has hung over my head and tormented me and my family,” she said.

Her acquittal is expected to reignite debate over corruption investigations involving former public officials, the handling of international prosecutions, and ongoing efforts to recover allegedly stolen assets linked to Nigeria’s oil sector.

Acquitted Diezani Accuses UK Authorities of Destroying Her Reputation

Xenophobia Crisis: Hundreds of Nigerians Yet to Be Evacuated from South Africa

Hundreds of Nigerians seeking to return home from South Africa amid renewed xenophobic tensions have been left stranded following delays in the Federal Government’s evacuation programme, the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has said.

The Federal Government had announced on June 7, 2026, that five chartered flights operated by Air Peace would evacuate Nigerians willing to return home following a wave of anti-immigrant protests and attacks in parts of South Africa.

The evacuation plan followed a screening exercise conducted by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in collaboration with South African authorities. Officials initially confirmed that more than 500 Nigerians had been cleared for evacuation, while later reports indicated that over 1,000 citizens registered for the voluntary repatriation programme.

Despite the announcement, only one evacuation flight has departed so far. The first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard an Air Peace aircraft, leaving hundreds of others still awaiting transportation back to Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its National President, Frank Onyekwelu, NICASA expressed concern over the plight of stranded Nigerians, many of whom travelled long distances from various provinces in South Africa after being instructed to report for registration and screening.

According to the association, numerous Nigerians, including women and children, have exhausted their resources and are now struggling to survive while waiting for updates on the remaining flights.

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“Many of these citizens travelled from distant provinces across South Africa after being instructed to report for registration and screening. Today, numerous families, including women and children, are stranded without shelter, food, transportation, or financial means to sustain themselves,” NICASA said.

The association warned that the situation is rapidly becoming a humanitarian crisis, with some Nigerians reportedly sleeping in difficult conditions after spending their savings on transportation and temporary accommodation.

NICASA appealed to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, and other relevant agencies to urgently intervene and prevent further hardship for affected citizens.

The group specifically called for the immediate deployment of emergency assistance for stranded Nigerians, improved communication from government agencies, and the swift operation of the remaining four evacuation flights.

It also urged the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to strengthen engagement with community leaders and provide temporary welfare support to vulnerable Nigerians awaiting evacuation.

The delays come after earlier logistical and operational challenges affected the rollout of the repatriation exercise. Authorities had previously postponed the first evacuation flight due to regulatory and operational clearance issues before the programme eventually commenced.

When contacted on the latest situation, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said there was no fresh update on the remaining evacuation flights but assured that information would be provided once new developments emerge.

Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has reassured affected citizens that all registered Nigerians will be evacuated.

Speaking on the programme, NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, urged those awaiting evacuation to remain patient, stressing that the Federal Government is working to ensure the smooth completion of the repatriation exercise.

The commission had earlier confirmed that President Bola Tinubu approved and funded the evacuation programme as part of efforts to safeguard Nigerian citizens affected by the growing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

With hundreds of Nigerians still awaiting evacuation, pressure is mounting on authorities to expedite the process and address the worsening humanitarian conditions facing stranded citizens.

Xenophobia Crisis: Hundreds of Nigerians Yet to Be Evacuated from South Africa