The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has taken Ndifreke Nelson into custody in connection with the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Emem Effanga.
Effanga, was pronounced dead at an undisclosed hospital after allegedly being strangled by her boyfriend.
Timfon John, the spokesperson for the Akwa Ibom Police Command, confirmed the incident on Monday in Uyo, the state capital.
The command’s spokesperson stated that operatives who visited the scene found visible marks of violence on Effanga’s face and neck, indicating that she may have been strangled.
“Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested one Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson,32, for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga, 39, and stealing her mobile phone after committing the crime,” he said.
“Sometime in February 2025, the command received a report that the deceased was found dead in her apartment under suspicious circumstances.
“Upon arrival at the scene, 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 dead by medical personnel. The corpse was thereafter deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
The PPRO also said that following swift investigations, “detectives traced the last person seen with the deceased to be Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson who had visited her residence on February 6, 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.”
John revealed that a postmortem examination had been conducted, with the cause of death documented by a pathologist. He assured the public that justice would be served and stated that the case had been charged to court.
