From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Cross River State Police Command has provided an update on an alleged murder case reported in Afukan Community, dismissing widespread online claims that two suspects in custody have been linked to a confirmed murder.
According to the Command, on June 8, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m., information was received at the Mbukpa Police Division from a correctional officer that members of the community had apprehended two persons suspected of involvement in a murder incident.
The suspects, identified as Ofofon Philip, 34, and Offiong Promise, 23, were subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
In a statement issued in Calabar by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, officers promptly visited the scene and took the suspects into custody for interrogation.
The statement noted that preliminary investigations, including a search of the area, did not establish any evidence of murder.
Both suspects denied any knowledge of, or involvement in, any killing.
Police further disclosed that no corpse was discovered at the reported location.
However, investigators observed traces of blood around a soakaway pit.
One of the suspects reportedly explained that the blood resulted from a previous leg injury, a claim that remains under investigation.
“The Command wishes to state categorically that, as of the time of this release, no case of murder has been established against the two suspects in our custody,” the statement said.
The police explained that the matter is presently being treated as a case of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace while investigations continue to determine the actual circumstances surrounding the report.
The Commissioner of Police has directed a thorough and discreet investigation to establish the facts and ensure justice is served in accordance with the law.
The Command also urged members of the public, journalists, bloggers and content creators to verify information through official police channels before publication, warning that the spread of unverified reports could mislead the public, create unnecessary anxiety and heighten tensions within affected communities.