From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Police command is on the trail of a man believed to be the ex-husband of the woman whose lifeless body was discovered Sunday morning, at Alkali Street Etegwe, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.
The deceased has been identified as Mrs Ese from the Egbo community in Ughelli South of Delta State.
Until her disappearance, the mother of three used to sell cow skin (ponmo), at Opolo market in Yenagoa.
Sources said though an autopsy would be conducted on the nature of her death, preliminary investigations indicated that she was strangled to death. Family sources said the ex-hubby is a suspect because of the bitter squabble they had a few days, prior to her disappearance and death.
Findings indicated that one Miss Precious, who is a younger sister to the deceased, was said to have confided in a family member that the deceased’s last visitor before her disappearance and death was the ex-hubby, who came to the house and engaged her in a bitter quarrel.
It was gathered that the estranged couple, who had separated in April 2023, had several squabbles over the custody of their three children.
“The ex-hubby, Collins, had visited the house when she was not around to take the three children. However, on the 27th of December, she met him on the road, and forcefully retrieved the children back to the house. Thereafter, the same day, he came to our house in the night, and that was the last day I saw my auntie.
“The following day, he came and we inquired to know where my aunty was, since we didn’t see her throughout the night. He (Collins) claimed the deceased travelled and would be back by Sunday,” Precious said.
Another family member, however, pointed out that, at first, the family thought she was a victim of ritualists, but a closer look at the body suggests she was strangled.
“When we broke the culvert and brought her out, we saw that our sister was strangled to death; she left her three children behind, who is going to cater for them?We have been trying to reach him (Collins), but his phone is switched off, but he will never get away with this devilish act,” the relative of the deceased said.
The police spokesman, Musa Mohammed, when contacted for update, said investigation was still on.