Cross River police arrest 57-year-old farmer accused of killing two men in Odukpani after a dispute allegedly linked to cannabis cultivation

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 57-year-old farmer, Samuel Sunny Udoh, over the alleged killing of two men in Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.

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Police said the arrest followed investigations into a missing person report filed by Regina Akan Patrick, whose husband, Akan Patrick, disappeared after leaving home for his farm in the Okong community.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the report was lodged on May 25 after Patrick failed to return home from his farm.

Eitokpah said the woman informed police that her husband typically spent about a week at the farm before returning home, but all attempts to contact him after his departure proved unsuccessful.

The disappearance prompted an investigation that eventually led detectives to Udoh.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to an incident involving Patrick and another man identified as Imoh.

According to police, Udoh claimed that in November 2025, the two men confronted him at his farm and demanded 14 bags of cannabis sativa he was allegedly cultivating.

The suspect further alleged that the pair arrived armed and attempted to intimidate him.

He told investigators that he reported the matter to community leaders, who intervened and examined the allegations.

However, the claims could not be substantiated, leading the community leaders to order the release of the two men, who had reportedly been restrained during the inquiry.

According to the police account, Udoh said a confrontation later erupted while he was accompanying the men after their release.

The suspect allegedly claimed that the two men attempted to attack him during the altercation.

He reportedly told investigators that he responded by pushing both men into a nearby river, where they drowned.

Eitokpah said the suspect also admitted that he failed to report the incident to law enforcement authorities.

According to the police spokesperson, Udoh claimed he chose not to alert the authorities because of his alleged involvement in the illegal cultivation of cannabis sativa.

The case has drawn attention because it links a missing person investigation to an alleged double homicide that authorities say may have occurred several months before the report was made.

Police have not disclosed whether the bodies of the deceased have been recovered, but investigations are continuing to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The suspect will be charged to court upon the completion of investigations,” Eitokpah said.

The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by security agencies in Cross River State to tackle violent crimes and strengthen community safety through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with local residents.

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Authorities have urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activities and security concerns promptly to assist law enforcement agencies in preventing crime and ensuring justice for victims.