Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The call came while he was in church. Ekemini Stephen had left his home at 8 Miles, Calabar, to worship, as he had done countless times before. But on this Saturday, September 12, 2026, his routine was shattered by a phone call from a neighbour with news that his residence was on fire. By the time he returned, the flames had already done their damage, and the life he had built inside those walls had been reduced to ashes and smoke. The police statement issued by the Cross River State Police Command, signed by Police Public Relations Officer ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, confirmed the incident and the swift arrest of a suspect in connection with what authorities are treating as a case of arson.
The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Bassey Ekpo, was apprehended with the assistance of neighbours and brought to the Ikpa Omin Police Division. The statement said the incident was reported by Ekemini Stephen, the occupant of the house, who told the police that while he was in church, a neighbour called to inform him that his residence had been set ablaze. The involvement of neighbours in the arrest is a striking detail. It suggests that the community, rather than standing by and watching the fire consume a neighbour's home, mobilised quickly enough to catch a suspect before he could disappear into the anonymity of Calabar's bustling streets. In many Nigerian communities, arson is often met with resignation or fear, with witnesses reluctant to intervene for fear of reprisals. That the neighbours acted, and that their action led to an arrest, is a testament to the bonds that still exist in communities where the instinct to protect one another has not been entirely eroded by insecurity.
But the most disturbing aspect of the case lies in the suspect's alleged confession. During preliminary questioning, Bassey Ekpo reportedly claimed that he was sent by his 61-year-old mother, who is currently at large and has been named as the alleged instigator of the arson. The police did not disclose the mother's identity or her whereabouts, stating only that she has been declared wanted. The statement said investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the involvement of all persons connected to it. The fact that a mother is accused of sending her son to burn down a residence raises questions that go beyond the immediate legal issues. What could have motivated such an act? Was it a family dispute, a land conflict, a business rivalry, or something more personal? The police have not provided details on the possible motive, and the suspect's account has not been independently verified.
The scene of the incident was visited by police operatives, and photographs were taken as part of the investigation. The police said anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law, a standard assurance that, in this case, carries particular significance because the primary suspect has already been arrested, and the alleged instigator remains at large. The command's decision to publicise the case, including the suspect's claim about his mother, suggests a determination to pursue the investigation to its logical conclusion, regardless of the family relationships involved. It is not every day that a Nigerian police command names a mother as an alleged instigator in a criminal case. The move places significant pressure on the 61-year-old woman to surrender or be apprehended, and it places the case firmly in the public eye, making it difficult for the matter to be quietly settled or swept under the rug.
For Ekemini Stephen, the victim of the arson, the arrest is a measure of justice, but it cannot restore what was lost. His home, a place of shelter and safety, was reduced to ashes in the hours he spent in worship. The psychological trauma of returning to find one's home burning, and the uncertainty of what comes next, is a burden that no arrest can fully alleviate. The police have not disclosed the value of the property destroyed or whether the victim had insurance. In a country where most homes are uninsured, the loss of a residence is not merely a material setback; it is a catastrophic event that can take years, if ever, to recover from.
The police have appealed to members of the public to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist the investigation, particularly in locating the fleeing mother. The command has not disclosed whether the suspect has legal representation or whether he has made a formal statement. The investigation continues, and the question on everyone's mind is whether the suspect's account of his mother's involvement is true, or whether he is attempting to deflect responsibility onto a family member who may not be able to defend herself. The police have said they will follow the evidence wherever it leads, and the coming days will determine whether the 61-year-old woman will be found, whether she will face charges, and whether the true motive behind the burning of the residence will be revealed. For now, Bassey Ekpo remains in custody, his mother is wanted, and a home in Calabar stands as a charred reminder of a fire that may have been lit by a family's darkest secret.
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