Police in Nigeria’s Cross River State have launched an investigation into the mysterious death of a woman whose body was discovered inside the toilet facility of a church days after she was reported missing by her family.
The deceased, identified as Blessing Ayebe, attended a service at the Presbyterian Church, Ikot Ansa Parish, in Calabar Municipality on Saturday, June 28, but never returned home, according to police and family members.
Her disappearance first raised alarm when her son, Saviour Ayebe, informed relatives that she had not come back from church. After days of searching, her daughter, Peace Ayebe, officially reported her missing at the Federal Housing Police Station in Calabar on July 1.
The search took a tragic turn when Ayebe’s body was discovered around 9 p.m. last Monday inside the church’s toilet facility.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said detectives have opened an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the body has been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and an autopsy, which will determine the exact cause of death.
He stated that no suspect has been arrested and that investigators have not found evidence of foul play at this stage.
According to the police spokesperson, the investigation remains active, and further updates will be provided as more facts emerge.
The deceased’s remains have been taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) morgue, where forensic examinations are expected to provide more answers.
Authorities are yet to determine how or when Ayebe died or how long her body remained inside the church facility before it was discovered.
The case has drawn widespread attention in Cross River State as investigators continue efforts to uncover what happened in the days between her disappearance and the discovery of her body.
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