Daud Olatunji
In a harrowing verdict delivered by Justice Winifred Effiong of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, a pastor named Uduak Umoren and his brother, Emmanuel, have been condemned to death by hanging for their involvement in the brutal murder of Iboro Joe.
The tragic incident unfolded over a dispute regarding a piece of land in the Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state.
Iboro Joe, a 45-year-old farmer and trader from Ikot Otu, met a gruesome end when he visited his sister-in-law in Adiasim Ikot Ekon to offer condolences on her husband’s passing.
The sister-in-law’s innocent request for assistance in assessing her late husband’s farmland for sale triggered a horrifying chain of events.
As recounted in court, the wife of the second convict spotted Iboro Joe and immediately raised an alarm, alleging that someone was attempting to bury a charm on their family land. What followed was a savage assault on Iboro Joe.
The second convict initiated the violence, launching a relentless attack on the deceased. His wife, along with her son and brother-in-law, joined in, wielding machetes and broken bottles as their weapons of choice.
The ferocious beating left Iboro Joe in a coma, and he was eventually dragged to his family compound near the farm. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries after three agonizing days.
Justice Winifred Effiong, presiding over the case, declared the two accused individuals guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
She handed down the grim sentence of death by hanging, affirming the prosecution team’s compelling case from the state Ministry of Justice.
This verdict underscores the gravity of land disputes in Akwa Ibom and serves as a stark reminder of the dire consequences that violence can bring in such disputes.
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