By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Ibeno Clan Council has condemned what it described as an “orchestrated campaign of falsehood” following what it described as deliberate misrepresentation of the geographical identity of Ndito Eka Iba to sway public perception, insisting that the community remains part of Ward 10 in Ibeno.
This followed the donation of a fishing boat to the widow of slain Monday Okon with the two councils attributing Ndito Eka Iba to be a community located in Eket Local Council.
In a statement yesterday in Upenekang, the Secretary of the Council, Chief Udofia Udofia, dismissed reports that the December 24, 2024 incident occurred in Eket, describing such claims as “vile” and a deliberate attempt to distort facts and mislead the public on a matter already before the court.
Udofia maintained that the killing took place at Ndito Eka Iba, a gazetted village in Ibeno Local Government Area, stressing that any attempt to attribute the community to Eket amounts to calculated misinformation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the incident did not occur in Eket Local Government Area as falsely claimed. Ndito Eka Iba is in Ibeno, and any attempt to reassign it elsewhere is not an error but a deliberate act to twist the truth.
“You cannot alter established facts through media propaganda. Any narrative suggesting otherwise is false, malicious, and made in bad faith,” The statement said.
The Council further alleged that the late Monday Okon was brutally murdered and beheaded by suspected mercenaries linked to interests in Eket and Esit-Eket, claiming the attack was premeditated.
According to Udofia, the deceased was targeted for urging Eket indigenes to desist from instigating crisis in Ndito Eka Iba, where he had lived and conducted his fishing business for years.
“This was not a random act. It was a calculated killing of a man whose only offence was standing for peace and truth,” he stated.
Providing an update on the case, the Council revealed that the matter had been formally reported to the Nigeria Police Force, leading to investigations, arrests, and the ongoing prosecution of suspects in court.
“The law is already in motion. Those implicated have been arrested and are currently facing trial. This matter is sub judice, and no amount of distraction should be allowed to derail justice,” Udofia added.
The Council also disclosed that the widow of the deceased has refused to bury her husband until justice is served.
Reacting to the reported donation of a fishing boat by the two council chairmen, the Ibeno body described the gesture as “deeply suspicious,” warning that it could be a ploy to influence the widow and weaken the legal process.
“What is being portrayed as compassion is, in reality, a Greek gift designed to emotionally manipulate the bereaved and possibly pave the way for suspects to evade justice. This must be rejected,” the Council declared.
Raising broader concerns, the Council questioned what it described as a long-standing pattern of hostilities by Ekid against Ibeno, asking pointedly whether the intent was peace or conflict.
It maintained that Ibeno has consistently secured favourable court judgments on land disputes involving Ekid and urged the opposing side to pursue legal channels rather than what it termed misinformation campaigns.
The Council also referenced peace efforts by Governor Umo Eno, noting that a proposed reconciliation committee had invited Ekid representatives to present relevant documents, an invitation it claimed was ignored.
While reaffirming its commitment to peace and development, the Ibeno Clan Council warned that any attempt to misrepresent its territory would be firmly resisted.
It, however, pledged continued support for the state government’s peace initiatives and urged the public, media, and authorities to disregard what it described as “contrived narratives” capable of undermining justice and stability in the area.
