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The Eka Midim Community Worldwide and concerned village and family heads in Abak Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom have called on the state government and relevant authorities to investigate the death of Obong Saviour Abatai, a prominent indigene of the area.
Apostle Sylvester Ibanga, Chairman of the Conference of Village Heads in Abak LGA, made the call at a news briefing in Abak.
Ibanga said the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of Abatai, who was the Chairman of the Midim Abak Clan Council and Village Head of Ekpat Iduot until his death, were suspicious.
He alleged that one Nsikan Okon Peter, who worked with the deceased as a foreman at his construction site, was the last person seen drinking local gin, popularly known as kaikai, with him on the night before his death.
“Nsikan Okon Peter, who worked as a foreman for Abatai, visited him at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, and drank with him.
“Before leaving, the deceased went into his room and gave him N20,000, which he owed him.
“But the suspect went outside and told the deceased’s son to try to obtain his father’s ATM PIN because his health condition was not good,” Ibanga said.
The group questioned why Peter would make such a statement when, according to Ibanga, the deceased had not shown any signs of illness before the visit.
Ibanga alleged that Abatai started vomiting blood at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, and died at about 4 a.m. the same day.
The group called for a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.
It also condemned what it described as derogatory and malicious statements against Prof. Nkeruwem Etukudo, Chairman of the group’s Board of Trustees (BoT), for insisting on a thorough investigation.
Ibanga alleged that Umoren Ebong and Peter had recently engaged in a social media campaign to discredit Etukudo.
He described Etukudo as a respected figure across Nigeria and urged members of the public not to spread falsehoods against him for personal gain.
“No individual or group should, whether for financial inducement or out of jealousy, associate him with falsehoods or attempt to smear his reputation.
“Prof. Etukudo has a reputation and name to protect. He is not a tyrant for insisting on a thorough investigation,” Ibanga said.
He further urged the individuals and groups concerned to desist from what he described as a campaign of calumny and the misrepresentation of issues involving Etukudo and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The group also called for an investigation into allegations circulating on social media, which it attributed to Ebong.
“Let it be known to everybody that the people of Midim Clan will not take it kindly if any indigene of the clan engages in such an act or is paid to do so,” Ibanga said.
Also speaking, 92-year-old Patrick Ekerette, the Akuku of the 12 Villages in Midim and Village Head of Ntong Ntong, said Midim Abak was suffering because of the ambitions of a few individuals in the community.
He said 14 of the 17 villages in Midim currently lacked access to the Midim Customary Court complex, which he described as the place where Midim Abak was founded.
“We are suffering because of the ambitions of a few individuals who always want to have their way,” he said.
Ekerette recalled events surrounding the matter and called on the Akwa Ibom governor to ensure a thorough investigation to establish the truth.
He described Etukudo as an illustrious son of the community who consistently sought peace and unity but was being targeted by people he described as enemies of the community.
It would be recalled that Ebong had alleged in a Facebook post that Peter was molested by DSS operatives on the orders of Etukudo.
The group, however, dismissed the allegation as untrue and diversionary, saying it was intended to distract attention from the main issue: the death of the Chairman of the Midim Abak Clan Council.
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