A tragic and deeply unsettling incident unfolded on Thursday in the Okop Ndua Erong community of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, where an alleged extramarital affair led to the brutal killing of a young man, raising urgent questions about morality, justice, and the rule of law.
The deceased, identified as Victor Akpabio, reportedly hailed from Ididep in Ibiono Ibom.
He was allegedly caught in an intimate encounter with a seven-month pregnant woman, Esther Akpabio Effiong, who is married to a local businessman popularly known as Mulgu.
Eyewitnesses recount that the couple was discovered in compromising circumstances, which triggered a violent reaction from members of the community.
The situation escalated into mob action, during which Victor was doused with hot water and mercilessly beaten.
He later succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack.
According to sources, the woman involved reportedly blamed her husband’s lack of sexual performance for her involvement with the deceased, allegedly referring to him as a “two-minute man.”
This revelation has further inflamed public discourse around the event, with many questioning the boundaries of accountability in marital crises and extrajudicial punishment.
While emotions continue to run high, human rights advocates and concerned residents have condemned the mob violence, stressing that no circumstances justify jungle justice.
They are calling on law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly and bring all responsible parties, those who carried out the fatal beating and anyone who incited violence, to justice.
Community leaders have remained largely silent, though insiders suggest local elders may soon convene to address the fallout and restore calm.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials are yet to release an official statement at the time of this report.
This incident has sparked intense debate both online and offline, as many Nigerians are now asking: Who bears the greatest blame, the unfaithful wife, the betrayed husband, the victim of mob justice, or a community too quick to take the law into its own hands?
Regardless of the moral complexity, the tragic death of Victor Akpabio underscores the urgent need for public enlightenment on the dangers of mob action and the importance of due process in any civil society.
As one local resident put it: “Today it’s Victor. Tomorrow, it could be someone else. We must say no to jungle justice, no matter the provocation.”
Investigations are ongoing.
