The skeletal remains of Esere Okilo, a 45-year-old pastor from Nembe-Bassambiri, have been discovered in his home in Ekeki, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, more than a year after he was reported missing.
The shocking discovery was made on Wednesday, January 22, when Okilo’s sister visited his residence due to accommodation challenges. Peering through a window, she found his skeletal remains seated on a toilet, clad in only a singlet.
Okilo, who was last seen 15 months ago, was described by neighbors as a quiet and devout man who kept to himself and rarely interacted with others in the community. Interestingly, residents reported no foul odor from the pastor’s apartment during his extended absence.
The pastor resided in one of the two flats in the compound, while his elder brother and his wife occupied the other. Reports indicate that the siblings were estranged. The locked bathroom door where Okilo’s remains were found has further deepened the mystery surrounding his death.
Initially, some family members believed Okilo’s disappearance was due to a routine church pilgrimage. However, his sister’s grim discovery has raised questions about the circumstances of his death.
Following the discovery, police were called to the scene to remove the remains. Authorities also arrested Okilo’s elder brother on suspicion of concealing the death.
A source from the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa revealed evidence that formalin, a chemical commonly used to preserve corpses, may have been applied to the body to suppress decomposition odors. "Medical staff observed signs that a substance like formalin was sprinkled on the corpse to prevent the smell," the source stated.