The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 37-year-old man, Joseph Okon Eren, following the death of his neighbor, Ekopimo Effiong Moses, after a violent clash in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, in a statement on Sunday, September 14, 2025, said the incident occurred on Thursday evening, September 11, after a heated argument between the two men spiraled into a deadly machete duel.
According to the report, Moses, 34, who was the youth president of the community, sustained deep machete cuts during the altercation and was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. He was later confirmed dead by the attending doctor.
“The suspect, Joseph Okon Eren, who hails from Ikot Obiondobo in Uruan LGA but resides in the village, was taken into custody shortly after the incident,” the statement read. “A machete believed to have been used in the attack has also been recovered as evidence.”
The police disclosed that the fight was first reported by the village head, who alerted operatives when the disagreement between the two men turned violent.
Eren is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, while the body of the late youth leader has been deposited at the morgue.
DSP John further assured that a discreet investigation is underway to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy. “Further details will be made public as the investigation progresses,” she said.
The incident has thrown the Ibesikpo Asutan community into mourning, with residents calling for peace and restraint in resolving disputes