He narrated thus: "It all started when I was still very young. It all started with a fight between my late father and one of my brothers, Kokoite. Another of my brothers, Ekperite, also joined the fight against my father. My two brothers were always violent towards my father, and my mother was very worried and concerned.

"Kokoite was a very wayward child. He was very lazy and didn't like to do any chores at home. My father was always complaining about his attitude. One day, after my mother finished cooking and was about dishing our meal, Kokoite fought with my father.

"It was the custom for my mother to always serve my father before the children. But on this particular day, Kokoite insisted that my mother must put his own portion before that of my father. As my mother was trying to serve my father's plate, he became violent and a fight ensued between him and my father."

He added: "My father took the matter and reported it to the elders of the community. The elders in the village had before then been complaining about my two brothers, Kokoite and Ekperite. My father told the then village head to organise and kill my two brothers because of their bad character and attitude.

"The community had intervened in their fight with my father more than ten times before he reported the matter for the last time. The community mobilised and they (his brothers) were arrested and handed over to the police.

"They were arraigned in court and the two of them were sent to prison. When they were released from prison and returned to the community, the police visited our community and settled everything. They believed that everything was over."

According to the suspect, surprisingly, the community mobilised themselves again and attacked Ekperite. They shot him and used machetes to inflict cuts on his body. My other brother, Kokoite, escaped to Lagos for fear of being killed like his brother.

"After the death of Ekperite, my mother was traumatised. She became very sick and didn't survive the agony of the death of her son. My father died about one year after the death of his wife. He couldn't bear the agony of losing his son and wife within a short time.

"I was left alone in the village and I vowed to avenge the deaths of my parents and brother, which I eventually did though I regret doing so. It was anger that pushed me to avenge the deaths."

The spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, in his reaction to the arrest of the suspect, said: "The unfortunate incident of the alleged serial killer case in Odukpani community quickly spread like wildfire, with sources alleging that over 30 bodies were involved in this gruesome act.

"Our immediate concern is to ensure a thorough, professional and impartial investigation into the alleged incidents in Creek Town."

He added that: "While the suspect is currently in custody and has made certain statements during interrogation, these remain subject to verification. The matter is under active investigation. We urge the public to remain calm, avoid speculation and allow investigators to do their work.