The unfolding tragedy surrounding the death of a Taraba State University undergraduate has taken a chilling turn, as the prime suspect in the case has been discovered dead under unclear circumstances.
The deceased, identified as Emmanuel Kefas, was earlier fingered in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student of the institution. Comfort’s mysterious passing had thrown the university community into mourning and sparked outrage across the state.
Confirming the latest twist on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Taraba, SP James Lashen, told journalists that a corpse believed to be that of Kefas was found in Tudiri, a community in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area.
“We received information from the village head of Tudiri that a lifeless body was discovered. A Tecno Android phone was recovered beside the corpse,” Lashen disclosed.
According to him, when investigators powered the device, they found a photograph of Kefas and the late Comfort, suggesting a romantic relationship between them.
The police spokesperson added that the body had since been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, for autopsy. “The autopsy will help determine the actual cause of death, while efforts are ongoing to locate the boy’s family for proper identification,” he said.
Authorities have yet to establish whether Kefas’s demise was a case of suicide, homicide, or an accident, but security operatives say investigations are in full swing.
The development has deepened the grief and anxiety in Jalingo, with many students and residents expressing shock at what they describe as “a mystery within a mystery.”
As police continue to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths of both Comfort Jimtop and Emmanuel Kefas, the state waits anxiously for answers.
