The decomposed body of Esere Okilo, a 45-year-old pastor from Nembe-Bassambiri, has been discovered in his home on Jacob Beredugo Street, Ekeki, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Okilo had been reported missing for 15 months before his remains were found on Wednesday.
The discovery was made by one of his sisters, who visited the residence due to accommodation needs.
Peeping through a window, she saw the pastor’s skeletal remains seated on the toilet, wearing only a singlet.
The revelation sparked confusion among residents, with many claiming they had not noticed any foul smell during the time the pastor was missing.
Neighbours described him as a devout and reserved individual, noting that he lived in one of two flats on the property, while his elder brother and the brother’s wife occupied the other.
Neighbours also disclosed that the siblings had been estranged before the incident.
Adding to the mystery, the bathroom door where the remains were found was reportedly locked from the inside.
Some family members had assumed that Okilo was on one of his usual church pilgrimages, despite concerns about his prolonged absence.
Following the discovery, operatives from the Ekeki Police Division evacuated the remains and arrested the pastor’s elder brother on suspicion of concealing the circumstances surrounding his death.
A police source revealed that medical staff at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, suggested that formalin might have been applied to the corpse to mask any foul odour.
“Medical personnel believe a substance like formalin was used to suppress the smell,” the source stated.
Efforts to contact Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, for further details were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.
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