Calabar residents have been thrown into fear and panic following the gruesome discovery of an 18-year-old boy’s body, suspected to be the victim of a ritual killing.
The remains were found along the swampy stretch of the Calabar River, behind the Cross River Basin Authority at Ikot Effanga, Calabar Municipality.
The deceased, identified as Daniel Ekanem, a native of Ikot Offiong in Odukpani LGA and resident of Lemna community in Calabar Municipality, was reportedly last seen on August 14, 2025.
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Daniel’s decomposing body was discovered five days later, on August 19, after a frantic search by his family. When found, the corpse had been decapitated, raising strong suspicions of ritual murder.
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Family members revealed to journalists that Daniel had gone to the swamp to harvest vegetables before he went missing. The discovery of his headless remains in the same area has not only devastated the community but also reignited fears of ritual killings in Calabar.
Commercial and farming activities in the swampy areas have since come to a halt, as residents and farmers fear for their safety amidst the rising concerns.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua, described the killing as tragic. He expressed condolences to the victim’s family and assured that investigations were ongoing, stating, “Justice will be served.”
CP Afegbua added that tactical units of the Command, including the Dragon Squad and the Ikot Omin Division, have been deployed to follow credible leads in the case.
Leaders of Ikot Effanga and the neighboring Ikot Enebong communities, where the body was discovered, have pledged full cooperation with security operatives to help unravel the circumstances surrounding what many fear may be the latest ritual killing in the state.
