Sunday April 19, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Emem BRANDY
The Ibeno Clan Council has condemned what it termed an “orchestrated campaign of falsehood” allegedly promoted by the chairmen of Eket and Esit-Eket Local Government Areas, following claims surrounding the donation of a fishing boat to the widow of slain fisherman, Monday Okon.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday in Upenekang, the Council’s Secretary, Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, dismissed reports situating the December 24, 2024 killing at Ndito Eka Iba village describing such assertions as “vile,” misleading, and a calculated attempt to distort facts in a matter already before the courts.
He clarified that, the incident occurred in Ndito Eka Iba, a gazetted community in Ibeno Local Government Area, not Eket warning that, any attempt to attribute the village to Eket was a deliberate act of misinformation and mischief.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the incident did not occur in Eket. Ndito Eka Iba is in Ibeno. Any attempt to re-assign it elsewhere is not an error but a conscious effort to twist the truth,” the statement declared.
The Council further alleged that the late Okon was brutally murdered and beheaded by suspected mercenaries working for Eket and Esit-Eket, insisting the attack was premeditated.
According to Udofia, the deceased was targeted for advocating peace and urging Eket indigenes to desist from fomenting crisis in Ndito Eka Iba, where he lived and operated his fishing business for many years.
“This was not a random act but a calculated killing of a man, whose only offence was standing for peace and truth,” he stated.
Providing an update, the Council disclosed that the case had been reported to the Nigeria Police Force, leading to arrests and ongoing prosecution of suspects in court.
“The law is already in motion. Those implicated have been arrested and are facing trial. This matter is subjudice, and no distraction should be allowed to derail justice,” Udofia added.
The Council also revealed that the widow of the deceased has refused to bury her husband pending the outcome of the case.
Reacting to the reported donation of a fishing boat by the council chairmen, the Ibeno body described the gesture as “deeply suspicious,” alleging it could be an attempt to influence the widow and compromise the judicial process.
“What is being presented as compassion is, in reality, a Greek gift aimed at emotionally manipulating the bereaved family and paving the way for suspects to evade justice. This must be rejected,” the Council warned.
It further accused the parties involved of deliberately misrepresenting the territorial identity of Ndito Eka Iba to sway public perception, maintaining that the community remains part of Ward 10 in Ibeno Local Government Area.
“You cannot alter established facts through propaganda. Any narrative suggesting otherwise is false, malicious, and made in bad faith,” Udofia emphasized.
Raising broader concerns, the Council questioned what it described as a pattern of hostility by Ekid against Ibeno and urged all parties to pursue lawful means in resolving disputes rather than resorting to misinformation and distortion of history.
The Council also referenced ongoing peace efforts by Umo Eno, noting that a reconciliation committee had invited Ekid representatives to present relevant documents, an invitation that Ekid bluntly ignored.
We keep asking; “what is Ekid really looking for “war or peace”? There have been opportunities opened to them for peaceful dialogue, they rejected it. We had won them in court on this matter over time and they appeal the judgement at Appeal Court but abandoned it. What are they looking for?”
While reaffirming its commitment to peace and development, the Ibeno Clan Council warned that any attempt to distort its territorial identity would be firmly resisted, even as it pledged continued support for government-led peace initiatives.
It urged the public, media, and relevant authorities to disregard what it described as “contrived narratives” capable of undermining justice and stability in the area.
Boat Donation Controversy: Ibeno Blast Ekid, Esit Ekid Chairmen Over ”Campaign of Falsehood”
