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Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community, AKHRC has called for the immediate release of the Village head of Asiak Obufa in Mbo Local Government Area of the State, Chief Edet Asuquo Okon who has been in police custody for the past three days.
The Police Public Relations Office, PPRO, Akwa Ibom, DSP Timfon John had in a statement on Wednesday said the operatives acting on intelligence arrested the village head for being in possession of an AK-47 rifle and two empty magazines. She added that the suspect was arrested at the scene without incident.
However, the Human Rights Community, miffed by what it described as media trial by the Police command, wondered how a suspect would be hurriedly paraded to the media without comprehensive and discreet investigation. He stressed that such a move was a violation of the fundamental rights of such a person.
At a press briefing by the convener of AKHRC, Clifford Thomas (Esq), flanked by the Public Relations Officer of the community, Dr Victor David and the Executive Director of COMPPART Foundation, Saviour Akpan in Uyo on Friday, they blamed the police for only telling the public about the discovery and recovery of the gun without availing them with the story behind the incident.
Barrister Thomas told the press that the community was alarmed with the level of media trial by the Police and decided to conduct an independent investigation into the latest incident which was that of the 60-year-old village head.
He said findings from the village head’s community showed that in January 2026, Marine Security with a combined team of security, repelled invading pirates and marauders in the Efiat/Unyenge axis of the State which was a public knowledge by the governor and the Commissioner for Internal Security Affairs
He added that on March 15, 2026, two young men from the community found a gun covered with mud in the bushes of the community and took the gun to the palace of the village head, who informed the Chairman of the Local Government Area who then advised him to wait, to enable him arrange how the gun will be retrieved from him by the authorities and given to the Commissioner of Police.
He said when the Chairman was no longer forthcoming, the Special Assistant to the governor on Marine Security was contacted on the situation, who then promised to contact the commissioner on how to retrieve the gun since the village or the youth cannot carry it in a public transport to public.
He said, the village head while waiting for the operatives of sector 2 of the Marine Security to come for onward movement to the police command; police operatives came and got him arrested, retrieved the gun and a media trial was immediately conducted, vilifying and disparaging his person.
Condemning the act, AKHRC said, “The DPO, Mbo and the Chairman of the Local Government Area should be investigated to ascertain their motive of arresting the village head, and rushing the matter to the media.
“The illegal and unconstitutional act of Media Trial of suspects and parades while the courts have not declared a person guilty of an offense, must stop. It constitutes a violation of the Fundamental Rights of every suspect. The negative shaping of public opinion against suspects, before trial and conviction, must stop. It is bad policing, in view of global best policing practice.
“Until people shout out and say this is wrong, they will keep doing it and we are saying no to it.
“The Commissioner of Police should cause the immediate release of Chief Edet Asuquo Okon from custody of the police, and allow him to attend a medical facility to receive treatment for his ailing health. He is so sick that he is urinating blood. He has a history of raised blood sugar and high blood pressure.
“Since the authorities were informed of the situation, it would have been proper to follow the procedure of retrieving the gun as promised, and he should be rewarded for not allowing the gun to fall into wrong hands.”
Human Rights community in Akwa Ibom demands release of village head, alleges media trial
