Akwa Ibom Leaders, Youths Fault Allegations Against Ex-College Provost

As tension mounts between two communities, Eka Midim and Afahaobong Clans, in Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State, leaders, elders, youths and stakeholders have sued for peace.

They called for proper investigations to unravel the contentious issues behind the feud.

The crisis stem from allegations of assault of a young man by some personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the death of a village head from alleged poisoning.

The former provost of the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology (FCMLST), Jos, Prof. Nkereuwem Etukudoh, was trying to mediate in the dispute.

At the country home of Etukudoh in Midim, it was gathered that DSS officials allegedly assaulted one Nsikan Okon Peter, who had accused the late village head, Etteidung Saviour Ebong Abatai, of owing him after working for him, adding that the deceased refused to pay, forcing the former provost to wade in.
But in a viral social media video, Peter was seen alleging that the DSS officials assaulted him on the orders of Etukudoh, an allegation his kinsmen denied and warned against defamatory remarks against their son.

At an emergency meeting convened by the community leaders and family representatives in Midim Clan, they disputed the claim that Prof. Etukudoh and operatives of DSS assaulted Peter, during a meeting over the disputed debt.

The leaders said the meeting was convened to clarify an outstanding debt allegedly owed by the late Eteidung Abatai, and not to subject anyone to physical punishment, and called for an investigation into the allegations circulating on social media, while appealing to those involved to “avoid statements capable of disrupting relations between Midim and neighbouring AfahaObong.”

The community leaders explained that their position followed some social media posts and a viral video by another Umoren Ebong concerning an encounter involving Peter and Prof. Etukudoh at the professor’s compound in Ikot Ekiduk.

In a communque issued on behalf of Eka Midim Community Worldwide and concerned village and family heads, the community condemned what it described as “derogatory and malicious statements against Professor Etukudoh,” and called for a thorough investigation into the allegations.

The communque signed by Apostle Sylvester Ibanga and Obong Paul Oboh, identified as Obom Mbong Ekpuk, and Chairman of Family Heads in Abak, expressed confidence in Prof. Etukudoh, and the DSS, while urging the relevant authorities to establish the facts through thorough investigations.

The late village head’s family had earlier disputed the allegation of assault, insisting that nobody was beaten during the meeting.

The deceased’s first son, Idongesit Saviour Ebong, explained that the meeting was arranged after he approached Professor Etukudoh to discuss an outstanding debt arising from a construction project handled by his late father.

He recalled that Peter, his late father’s foreman at work, had initially claimed that the deceased owed him ₦295,000, but the amount subsequently put forward by the family was ₦45,000, an action, he stated, compelled Prof. Etukudoh, to invite him to clarify the claim with a view to facilitating the settlement of the outstanding amount.

Besides, he raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his father’s death in September 2026, alleging that Peter had been with the deceased on the night before he reportedly began vomiting blood.

However, the community called on security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, alongside the conflicting accounts of the meeting involving Professor Etukudoh and Peter in the process of trying to resolve the issues.