The discovery of the skeleton of 45 year old Pastor, Esere Okilo in his residence 15 months after he was declared missing has thrown residents into shock and disbelief.
The cleric until his disappearance was residing at Jacob Beredugo street, off Osiri Road, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.
He hailed from Nembe-Bassambiri in Bayelsa.
The skeleton was discovered by his female relative, who was having accommodation issues and decided to check on the residence of his brother by looking through the window and found the skeleton sitting on the toilet seat with only his singlet.
The discovery, which occurred on Wednesday night, threw lots of residents into confusion as many claimed they were not aware and did not perceive any foul odour of a decomposing corpse.
Residents of the area gathered in groups discussing the sad fate of the deceased who was known to be a reserved man of God.
They said that the deceased was staying in a compound comprising two flats.
While he stayed in one, his senior brother and his wife occupy the other.
“The two brothers were not in talking terms as he was reported to have always referred to the brother and his wife as a bewitched duo,” a resident said.
It was learnt that few months ago, the immediate family had a meeting expressing concern over his whereabouts and declared him missing.
But some other family members thought he had gone on one of his usual church pilgrimages.
Another neighbour noted that the Operatives of the Ekeki Division of the Bayelsa Police Command, who came to evacuate the skeleton of the deceased, arrested the senior brother on the alleged suspicion of covering up the death of the deceased.
Morticians at the Federal Medical Center morgue claimed that there were signs of formalin sprinkled on the corpse to cover up the foul smell coming from the apartment.
Another eyewitness claimed the skeleton was locked in the toilet from inside.
