Akwa Ibom: Priest Commits Suicide Inside Sanctuary

By Patrick Titus, Uyo

Founder and General Overseer of Power in the Word of God for the World Ministries, Pastor Etetim Udo has committed suicide inside the church, located at No. 1B Etim Inyang Street, in Oron Local Government area of the state.

Pastor Etetim, whose lifeless body was found suspended with a twisted mosquito net rope inside the church auditorium, according to his children, took his life in the morning of Thursday, July 23, 2026, leaving them and congregation in utter shock.

Although reason as to why the incident occurred was yet unknown, police command has been informed of the horrific incident.

Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer in the command headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia Uyo, DSP Timfon John said they learned about the incident through a distress report from a resident of the area who alerted the command.

According DSP John in a statement on Saturday, July 25, 2026, the caller reported that he, upon arriving at the church premises, where he usually parks his motorcycle, noticed an unusual gathering. He was subsequently informed by the deceased’s children that their father had allegedly taken his own life.

Following the report, operatives of the command were immediately mobilised to the scene. Preliminary observations revealed that the deceased was found suspended with a twisted mosquito net rope, DSP John stated.

“The scene was professionally processed by investigators, photographs were taken, and relevant exhibits were recovered to aid forensic examination and further investigation. The body was evacuated to the hospital, where the medical doctor on duty confirmed him dead. His remains have since been deposited at the mortuary pending the conduct of an autopsy,” the Police image maker added.

She further stated: “Although preliminary findings point to a case of suspected suicide, the Command wishes to emphasise that investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident and rule out every other possibility.

“The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, has assured members of the public that the investigation will be thorough, impartial, and professionally conducted.

“He appealed to anyone with useful information that could assist the investigation to come forward and cooperate with the police. The Commissioner of Police also urged members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information or engaging in speculation capable of misleading the investigation or causing unnecessary public anxiety,” the release stated.