Residents of Jacob Beredugo Street, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were shocked on Wednesday night when the skeleton of a missing preacher, 45-year-old Esere Okilo, was discovered in his home, over a year after he was declared missing.
The discovery was made by a female relative who, facing accommodation issues, decided to check on Okilo’s residence. Looking through a window, she found his skeletal remains on a toilet seat, clad in only a singlet.
A Mysterious Discovery
Neighbours expressed disbelief, noting they had neither noticed foul odours nor suspected anything unusual. Okilo, from Nembe-Bassambiri in Nembe Local Government Area, was described as a reclusive preacher. He lived alone in one flat of a two-flat compound, while his elder brother and the brother’s wife occupied the other.
One neighbour stated that the brothers were estranged, with Okilo allegedly referring to his brother and sister-in-law as “bewitched.” Family members had previously speculated that he might have gone on a church pilgrimage, delaying further investigation into his disappearance.
Police Investigation Underway
Police from the Ekeki Division evacuated the skeletal remains and arrested Okilo’s elder brother on suspicion of covering up the death. A police source indicated that preliminary findings suggested formalin may have been used to mask the odour of decomposition.
Residents remain unsettled, as the circumstances surrounding Okilo’s death raise questions about foul play or negligence. The Bayelsa State Police Command has yet to release an official statement, but investigations are ongoing.