A joint operation by the Nigerian Army, police tactical squads, and local community members has led to the arrest of a suspected serial killer and the gruesome discovery of multiple mass shallow graves in a dense forest hideout.
The suspect, identified as Akaninyene, an indigene of Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom State, was apprehended following an intensive intelligence-led raid on an isolated hut he constructed in the Abanyama forest within the Ukim Ita Community of Creektown.
Security operatives, acting on urgent intelligence regarding a recent missing person, tracked the suspect to his remote forest enclave. Upon realizing his hideout had been compromised, Akaninyene reportedly attempted to retrieve a weapon from inside his hut.
He was swiftly cut off by a combined force of tactical teams and local community youths. A brief escape attempt into the thick brush was foiled, and he was taken into custody without further incident.
A subsequent search of the compound unearthed a horrific scene. Operatives uncovered approximately eight shallow graves hidden beneath freshly planted plantain crops—a tactic investigators believe was used to mask the disturbed earth.
Inside the graves, authorities discovered the remains of up to five individuals per site. In a chilling detail, all the exhumed bodies were missing their heads.
During initial interrogations, Akaninyene allegedly confessed to the murder of roughly 30 individuals from the local community who had mysteriously disappeared without a trace over an extended period.
According to security sources, the suspect confessed that his final murder took place on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Akaninyene implicated a female accomplice, claiming she was used as bait to lure unsuspecting victims into the forest. He further alleged that during the final attack, the woman assisted by restraining the victim while the decapitation was carried out.
The breakthrough came after Creektown residents reported hearing desperate cries and signs of a struggle coming from the forest area.
Local leadership moved swiftly. Apostle Hon. Ene Itam (Councilor representing Creektown Ward 1), alongside the Ward Chairman and community elders, escalated the reports of missing persons to the Executive Chairman of Odukpani Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Elder Chief Ukpong Etim Asido. The Chairman immediately mobilized high-level military and police tactical units.
Hon. Effiom Ekene, Leader of the 8th Legislative Assembly in Odukpani LGA, praised the seamless coordination between government officials, security forces, and the community.
“The swift deployment of our military and police tactical teams, paired with the sheer vigilance of the Creektown youths, was instrumental in ending this nightmare. We commend the Executive Chairman for his immediate response.”
The horrific revelation has sent shockwaves through Odukpani LGA and the wider Cross River State, as distraught families grapple with the reality that a mass killer was living quietly in their vicinity.
In the wake of the arrest, local youths have launched intensive “bush-combing” operations across neighboring forests to ensure no other hideouts or victims remain undiscovered.
Security agencies state that Akaninyene is cooperating with investigators. His confessions are currently being used to track down his female accomplice and map out the broader criminal network. Authorities have strongly urged residents across Cross River State to maintain high situational awareness and immediately report any unusual or suspicious activities to the nearest law enforcement agency.
