Ijeoma Wilfred
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson,a 32- year – old man for allegedly strangling his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga, 39, to death in her apartment over altercation involving her phone.
Confirming the incident on Monday in a statement,the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, said that the suspect was apprehended in a church in Uyo while attempting to evade arrest.
John revealed that the police received a report in February 2025 that the deceased was found dead under suspicious circumstances.
She said “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 PPRO added that the crime scene was processed, evidence documented, and the victim’s body was evacuated to the hospital, where medical personnel confirmed her death. The remains were later deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Following swift investigations, detectives identified Nelson as the last person seen with the deceased. He had visited her residence on February 6, 2025, the morning of his birthday.
During interrogation, Nelson reportedly confessed to visiting Effanga and asking 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, rendering her unconscious before fleeing with her phone.
The police recovered an Itel Super Phone belonging to the deceased from the suspect at the time of arrest. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, with the cause of death officially documented by a pathologist. The suspect will be charged to court.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, assured the public that justice will be served and warned against all forms of domestic violence and criminal acts. He urged residents to remain security-conscious and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
