Akwa Ibom Chief Priest Kills Daughter, Blames His Wife

Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old chief priest, Eno Akpan, for allegedly killing his one year and three months old daughter, Favour.

Chief priest Eno, who hails from Ikot Akpan Udo village in Ikot Abasi area of the state, is the one in charge of the village’s "babalawo" shrine.

The commissioner of police, Murtala Mani, said in Uyo on Monday that Eno had a misunderstanding with his wife, Blessing, and beat her up.

The CP, who spoke through the state Police Public Relations Officer, Cordelia Nwawe, explained that during the scuffle, Blessing ran off to her mother and left her daughter with the suspect.

He said Eno called Blessing to take Favour with her, but because she refused, he inflicted machete injuries on the girl’s back and head.

Sadly, the little girl died from the injuries.

He said, “On July 23, at 7.30pm, the complainant, Blessing, had a misunderstanding with her husband, Eno Akpan. In the process, the husband beat her up.

“She left the house for her mother’s place, leaving her daughter behind. The husband asked her to return home to take the child along, but she refused. The husband then used a machete to inflict cuts on the back and head of their daughter. She died on the spot.”

Eno, however, said he had a disagreement with his wife after she returned home late from the market where she sold oysters.

According to him, he used his fists on her, but by the time he picked up a machete to strike her, it cut through their daughter.

He said, “She went to sell oysters in the market. When she came back, I tried to inquire why she came back late and that it was becoming a habit for her to return home late from the market.

“Her reply incensed me and I had no other option than to beat her. The moment I picked up a machete to strike her, she threw my daughter at me and the machete landed on her head and back.”

The Police boss said that investigation is ongoing into the matter before possible prosecution.