The village head of Ikot Obong village, located in the Ikpa Ibekwe clan of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, has demanded ₦50 million in damages from those responsible for dumping a dead body at his palace.

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The village head of Ikot Obong village, located in the Ikpa Ibekwe clan of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, has demanded ₦50 million in damages from those responsible for dumping a dead body at his palace after an escalating burial dispute. The traditional ruler, Eteidung Gordon Etukeren, said the act exposed him and his family to psychological trauma and health challenges caused by the stench from the corpse that was left without his consent.

According to Etukeren, the incident occurred on Saturday, March 7, when aggrieved relatives brought the remains of Stephen Iboro, a former staff member of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), in a coffin and dumped it at his palace. The dispute began because the Udobong family, to which the deceased belonged, insisted that Iboro be buried on land that belonged to the Etukeren family — a proposal the village head strongly opposed.

Etukeren explained that Stephen Iboro was not a member of his family, but came from Otong Udobong, a section of the village. He said his own family had previously given Iboro land to build a home when he had no property, but as time passed and he became able to acquire his own land — though it did not go smoothly — tensions over his burial location grew.

The village head said trouble escalated when members of the Udobong family falsely accused him of fomenting problems merely because he objected to burying the late Iboro on Etukeren family land. He said those allegations even prompted them to request that police detain him so they could proceed with burying their relative where they wanted, but the police, after investigating, backed out of the matter.

To prevent the burial on his land, Etukeren said he obtained a court injunction from the High Court of Akwa Ibom State (Ikot Abasi Division), restraining the Udobong family from burying Iboro on his family’s land. On the Friday that the injunction was served, he sought police support to enforce it and was allegedly threatened by the Udobong family, who told him they intended to “bring the corpse” to his palace — a threat that materialised the next day when the coffin was delivered.

The village head described how the stench from the decomposing body created an unbearable environment for him and his family, causing psychological distress and concerns about possible health risks. He said the act of dropping a corpse at his residence — particularly after a court order was issued — was deliberate and humiliating, and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.

The feud has stirred community reaction, with some villagers expressing shock at the manner in which the disagreement unfolded. Many see the dumping of a corpse at a traditional ruler’s palace as deeply disrespectful, and there have been calls among residents for reconciliation and peaceful handling of family disputes instead of escalation.

At the time of reporting, no formal response from the Udobong family or police statement about any investigation had been made public. The dispute has drawn attention in the state and beyond to how family disagreements over burial arrangements and land rights can ignite broader community tensions — especially when traditional customs, legal orders, and family expectations collide.

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