Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Cross River State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the mysterious death of a woman whose lifeless body was discovered inside the toilet of a church in the Ikot Ansa area of Calabar Municipality, the state capital. The deceased has been identified as Blessing Ayebe, a resident of the area who reportedly attended a church service at the Presbyterian Church, Ikot Ansa Parish, on Saturday, 28 June 2026, but never returned home. Her body was found around 9 p.m. on Sunday, 29 June 2026, inside the church's toilet facility, triggering an investigation that has so far yielded no arrests.
According to family sources, Ayebe's disappearance was first noticed when she failed to return home after the Saturday service. The family raised the alarm, and on Tuesday, 1 July 2026, her daughter, Peace Minka Ayebe, formally reported the incident at the Federal Housing Police Station in Calabar. Peace told police that she had been informed of her mother's disappearance by her brother, Saviour Ayebe. The discovery of Ayebe's body the following day deepened the family's grief and raised troubling questions about what transpired within the church premises between Saturday evening and Sunday night.
The Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident on Sunday, 5 July 2026, stating that the case is actively under investigation. He disclosed that the body had been deposited at the mortuary of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for preservation and an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. "The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy to determine the cause of death. No suspect has been identified or arrested at this stage, as there is presently no evidence of foul play," Eitokpah said. He added that investigators were treating the case as a sudden and unnatural death, with the outcome of the autopsy expected to guide the direction of the investigation.
Police officers who visited the scene reportedly found no visible signs of violence on the body, further deepening the mystery surrounding Ayebe's death. The police have not disclosed whether the deceased had any underlying medical condition or whether she showed signs of distress before entering the church toilet. The absence of any clear evidence of criminal involvement has left investigators relying heavily on the autopsy results, which are expected to determine whether the death resulted from natural causes or other circumstances requiring further criminal inquiry.
The incident has generated widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing shock and demanding a thorough and transparent investigation. The discovery of a woman's body in a place of worship has unsettled residents of Calabar, particularly those in the Ikot Ansa community, where the church is located. Many have taken to online platforms to express their condolences to the Ayebe family while calling on security agencies to leave no stone unturned in uncovering the truth. The case has also raised broader concerns about the safety of worshippers in churches across the country, where similar incidents have occurred in recent years.
The Ayebe family, still reeling from the shock of their loss, has appealed to the public and the police to ensure justice is served. The body of Blessing Ayebe remains at the UCTH mortuary pending the outcome of the autopsy. As the investigation continues, the police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist in the case to come forward. The command has also assured the public that further developments will be communicated as they unfold. For now, the circumstances surrounding the death of Blessing Ayebe remain shrouded in mystery, leaving her family and the community to grapple with unanswered questions and the painful wait for closure.
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