Missing pastor's remains found in Bayelsa residence after 15 months

Residents of the Jacob Beredugo street along the Osiri area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital were on Wednesday night thrown into shock and disbelief following the discovery of the skeleton of 45-year-old Preacher, Esere Okilo in his residence 15 months after he was declared missing.

The deceased, Esere Okilo is from Nembe-Bassambiri in Bayelsa State.

His body was discovered by a concerned female relative, who was having accommodation issues and decided to check on the residence of his brother by looking through the window and found the skeleton of his brother sitting on the toilet pow with only his singlet.

The discovery, which occurred on Wednesday night, threw lots of residents into confusion as many claimed they were not aware and did not perceive any foul odour of a decomposing corpse.

When newsmen visited the street on Thursday afternoon, residents gathered in groups to discuss the sad fate of the deceased.

They told our correspondent that the deceased was staying in a compound housing two flats. While he stays in one, his senior brother and his wife occupy the other.

“The two brothers were not on talking terms as he was reported to always referred to the brother and the wife as a bewitched duo,” a source said.

It was gathered that a few months ago, the immediate family had a meeting, expressing concern over his whereabouts and declared him missing. But some other family members thought he had gone on one of his usual church pilgrimages.

Another neighbour confirmed to our correspondent that the operatives of the Ekeki division of the Bayelsa Police Command, who came to evacuate the skeleton of the deceased, arrested the senior brother on the alleged suspicion of covering up the death of the deceased.

A police source told our correspondent that a preliminary chat with workers at the Federal Medical Center morgue claimed that there were signs of formalin sprinkled on the corpse to cover up the foul smell coming from the apartment.

Another eyewitness claimed the skeleton was locked in the toilet from inside.