Family Shocked as Missing Bayelsa Preacher’s Skeleton Found in Home

Residents of Jacob Beredugo Street along the Osiri axis of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were stunned on Wednesday night when the skeleton of 45-year-old preacher Esere Okilo was discovered in his home, 15 months after he was declared missing.

Shocking Discovery: Missing Preacher’s Skeleton Found in Yenagoa Toilet

The grim discovery was made by one of Okilo’s concerned female relatives, who was dealing with accommodation issues and decided to check on her brother’s residence. Peering through a window, she was horrified to find his skeleton sitting on the toilet, wearing only a singlet.

The shocking find sent waves of panic through the neighborhood, as many residents claimed they had not noticed any foul odor or other signs that something was amiss in the apartment.

Family Shocked as Missing Bayelsa Preacher’s Skeleton Found in Home

Okilo, originally from Nembe-Bassambiri in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa, had lived alone in a two-flat compound, with his senior brother and his wife occupying the other flat. Known as a solitary man and a preacher, Okilo had not been on good terms with his brother, whom he allegedly referred to as part of a “bewitched duo” along with the brother’s wife.

Several months ago, Okilo’s family held a meeting to express concern over his sudden disappearance, but some relatives believed he had simply gone on one of his usual church pilgrimages.

Police Investigate as Missing Preacher’s Body Found in Suspicious Conditions in Yenagoa

According to one neighbor, Bayelsa Police Command’s Ekeki division responded to the scene and removed the skeleton. The senior brother of the deceased was arrested under suspicion of covering up the death. Police sources indicated that initial examinations suggested formalin had been sprinkled on the corpse to mask the decomposition odor, which may have been an attempt to conceal the death.