Two women escape jungle justice in Akwa Ibom

By Uko Etim

UYO—Two women narrowly avoided a mob‑led execution in Uyo after an angry crowd stripped them naked, assaulted them violently, and tried to kill them over unverified allegations.

The incident reportedly occurred on Ring Road 3 in Uyo on Tuesday at about 9:00 am, according to a statement from the Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John.

John said the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John, witnessed the scene while heading to work and alerted police after seeing one of the women bleeding heavily from severe injuries.

Police operatives were mobilised to the scene, dispersed the crowd, rescued the victims, and rushed them to a medical facility where they are receiving treatment and responding well.

One suspect, Emediong Robert, 22, of Ikot Ekwere in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, was arrested at the scene for inciting the mob and calling for the victims’ execution.

The statement read, in part: “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has condemned in the strongest possible terms the barbaric, degrading, and unlawful mob attack carried out against two women in Uyo, describing the incident as a savage act of criminality, lawlessness, and a direct assault on human dignity and the rule of law.”

“The ugly incident occurred on Tuesday, 19th May 2026, at about 0945 hrs along Ring Road 3, Uyo, where an irate mob stripped two women naked, brutally assaulted them, and attempted to subject them to unlawful execution over allegations yet to be verified by lawful authorities.”

“The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem Emmanuel John, who witnessed the horrifying scene while on his way to office, immediately took courageous and patriotic steps to save the victims by alerting the Police after observing that one of the women had already sustained severe injuries and was bleeding profusely.”

“Upon receipt of the distress call, operatives of the Command swiftly mobilized to the scene, dispersed the violent crowd, rescued the victims from imminent danger, and rushed them to a medical facility where they are currently receiving treatment and responding positively to medical care.”

“Following immediate intelligence‑driven action and preliminary investigation, one suspect identified as Emediong Robert, male, 22 years, of Ikot Ekwere, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, was arrested at the scene for actively inciting the mob and allegedly calling for the execution of the victims during the violent attack,” the statement added.

The PPRO warned that any person found participating in mob action, jungle justice, public assault, torture, or any form of extrajudicial violence will be dealt with decisively in accordance with Nigerian law.

John said the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has ordered a manhunt for all other persons linked to the incident and vowed that perpetrators, sponsors, and accomplices would be identified, arrested, and prosecuted without delay.

“Akwa Ibom State will not be turned into a jungle where criminal mobs brutalize citizens at will,” CP Azare said. “No allegation against any individual justifies public humiliation, torture, assault, or attempted murder. Every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The Command commended Dr John for his swift intervention, saying his action saved the victims’ lives.

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