Akwa Ibom govt suspends monarch over alleged terrorism

The Akwa Ibom State Government has suspended the Village Head of Ikot Umo Essien, in Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state, Monday Esu, over alleged act of terrorism.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Frank Archibong, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Archibong said the suspension was for a period of six months to enable full scale investigation into the various allegations leveled against the village head.

The commissioner stated that the allegations against the village head include acts causing the breach of peace and security, such as alleged sponsorship of vandalism and theft of facilities at newly constructed blocks of shops at Ikot Ekpenyong community market, among others.

He recalled that hoodlums from Ikot Umo Essien village allegedly stormed the local market in Ikot Ekpenyong community demolishing, vandalising, and looting the shops.

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Archibong said: “The alleged criminal element went further to destroy the Fadama sponsored borehole and VIP Lavatory within the same vicinity, carting away items such as aluminium roofing sheets, windows, doors, overhead tanks, water pump and generator.

“They also unleashed mayhem and intimidated residents of the area, making them live in fear.”

The commissioner noted that preliminary investigations fingered Esu as the prime suspect.

He added that the village head had therefore been ordered to handover all government property in his possession to the village council secretary.

The Star