In a twist of fate, a man named Israel takes his own life in Bayelsa over a failed relationship, while others kill their lovers for rituals in Rivers and Anambra
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
A young man identified as Israel was found dead in Elebele Community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in a tragic incident that has left residents in deep shock.
It was gathered that the deceased identified as Israel hanged himself with a rope inside the bush over a failed romantic relationship.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, threw the quiet and sleepy coastal community into shock and mourning.
Community sources revealed that Israel had been battling emotional distress after a prolonged disagreement and eventual separation from a woman he was said to be deeply attached to.
It was gathered that the deceased had shown signs of withdrawal and sadness in recent days, but no one anticipated such a tragic outcome.
A resident of the area told Tentacle that Israel was a calm and hardworking young man whose death had left the entire community devastated.
“He was not known to be violent or troublesome. People noticed that he was not himself lately, but nobody imagined it would end like this. It is a painful lose” the resident said.
Another community member described the incident as a reminder of the growing mental health challenges among people, particularly in rural communities where access to counselling and emotional support services is limited.
Family members of the deceased were seen to be inconsolable as youths and elders of Elebele gathered at the family compound, while traditional rites were reportedly initiated in line with local customs.
Spokesman for Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Muhammed, who confirmed the incident, said the preliminary investigation had commenced to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the death.
He said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Daniel Iyamah, had directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area to visit the scene where the corpse of the deceased was discovered and deposited in the mortuary.
In another development, the Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 26-year old man identified as Goodnews Iberi for kidnapping and killing of a 25-year girl along the Emuoha axis of the East-West Road in the state.
The Police said the suspect, with his gang now at large, had lured the girl, identified as Rita Eleonu, a Tiktok Influencer known as “Special” into a hotel before taking her into an evil forest.
The Spokesperson for the Command, Grace Iringe-koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
According to Iringe-Koko, the miscreants subsequently kidnapped the girl and immediately contacted her family, who paid a N210,000 ransom to secure her freedom.
Unknown to them, the suspects later killed the girl for suspected ritual purposes and buried her in a shallow grave in an evil forest before fleeing.
She said both the arrested suspect and their victim hail from Obio/Akpor Council, adding that following a distress call by a relative of the girl, operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit in Emohua swung into action, leading to the arrest of the prime suspect (Iberi) in his hideout on the early hours of January 8, 2026,
She said the suspects confessed to the crime during the interrogation and led the Policemen to the forest where the girl’s remains were exhumed.
“The Rivers State Police Command in a bold and coordinated operation, has arrested one Goodnews Iberi, a 26-year-old native of Rumuakunde Community in Emohua Local Government Area, in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Rita Special Eleonu, a 25-year old female from Rumuekini Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area following a distress report on December 29, 20225, by the victim’s brother (name withheld).
Tentacle recalled that on December 13, 2025, the suspect and four of his accomplices, now at large, lured Rita to the Rumurkunde axis in Emohua Local Government Area where she was kidnapped and later taken to an evil forest along the East-West Road after collecting N210,000 ransom from the victim’s family before killing her.
“Acting on this distressing but credible piece of information, operatives of Command attached to the Anti-cultism Unit (ACU) Emohua annex, utilizing intelligence-led policing, arrested Iberi on January 8, 2026, at about 06 30hrs in his hideout.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime, highlighting his role and further incriminating four other accomplices. The suspect led Police Operatives to where the victim’s decomposing remains have been recovered from the forest and deposited at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Morgue for autopsy.
It would also be recalled that on Sunday, January 11, 2026, the Anambra Police Command arrested a 26-year-old suspect, Chibuike Anikpe, over the alleged murder of his girl friend, a 35-year-old single mother, Ogechukwu Mmadubugwu who was living at Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of the state over infidelity.
Confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Awka, the State Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect was arrested by the operatives of the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Awka on January 7, 2026 in connection with the crime.
Ikenga further said that during interrogation the suspect confessed to stabbing the victim in the neck with a knife which resulted in her death. While disclosing that the incident occurred at 12:00 midnight on 9 December, 2025 the Police Spokesman added, “the suspect in his confession stated that the act was committed due to suspicions of infidelity.”
“He further revealed that he became emotionally distressed after going bankrupt and accumulating debts while attempting to establish a business for the victim, a situation that allegedly escalated into a fatal confrontation.
The tragic incident has sparked public outrage and renewed discussions on domestic violence and relationship-related crimes within the community.
A social commentator, Ebere Dike told Tentacle that people should adopt lawful and peaceful means of resolving relationships disputes and report early signs of domestic violence to security agencies promptly to prevent avoidable tragedies, adding, “Some ladies should also be mindful of the kind of men they relate with. At 26, the suspect is not emotionally mature to handle a 35-year-old woman.”
