Tension has gripped Ikot Obong village in Ikpa Ibekwe clan of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, after unidentified individuals allegedly dumped a corpse at the palace of the village head, Chief Eteidung Etukeren.
The shocking incident, which occurred last Saturday, is believed to be the climax of a long-running dispute between the Etukeren and Udobong families over where the late Stephen Iboro should be buried.
Iboro, a former employee of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi, died recently, sparking disagreement between the two families about his final resting place.
Speaking with reporters, the village head, Eteidung Etukeren, accused some individuals including Uboho Uku, Oliver Obot, Okon Peter and Joy Iboro of bringing the corpse in a coffin to his palace on March 7 and abandoning it there.
Etukeren said the action had caused serious distress to him and his family, adding that the stench from the decomposing body has led to psychological trauma and health concerns.
He is demanding N50 million in damages from those responsible for the act.
According to the monarch, the crisis began when members of the Udobong family insisted that the deceased be buried on land belonging to the Etukeren family.
He said he rejected the request because the late Iboro was not a member of his family.
Etukeren explained that although Iboro hailed from Otong Udobong in Ikot Obong village, the Etukeren family had once sheltered him when he was allegedly rejected by his relatives.
“The late Iboro was accommodated by us when he was rejected by his family. We gave him a place to stay and advised him to buy his own land when he had the means,” he said.
He said Iboro later secured employment at ALSCON and eventually built his own house.
However, according to him, the deceased later discovered that the land he bought had been sold to him fraudulently and he was asked to vacate the property.
Etukeren added that before the dispute escalated, the deceased had been asked to move out of the Etukeren family property after his health began to deteriorate, but he pleaded for more time to complete his house.
Following the disagreement over burial arrangements, the village head said he approached the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, Ikot Abasi Division, which granted an injunction in Suit No. HAB/MISC.4/2026 restraining the Udobong family from burying Iboro on Etukeren family land.
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He said the court order was served on Friday, after which he also informed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and requested police assistance to enforce the injunction.
Despite the court order, Etukeren alleged that members of the Udobong family proceeded to bring the corpse to his palace the following day and dumped it there.
The incident has sparked panic in the community, with residents expressing concern over the unusual act and the escalating dispute between the families.
