Akwa Ibom High Court has delivered judgment in a long-running child murder case that shocked Ibesikpo Asutan in 2016. The court has sentenced a 38-year-old man, Anwanga Effiong Udofia, to death for the murder of a nine-year-old school pupil.
The judgment was delivered on Friday, bringing closure to a case that has lingered for nearly a decade and deeply affected the Itoko community in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
The victim, Aniekan Idongesit Edet, was a Primary Five pupil of Lutheran Primary School, Itoko. He was attacked on the morning of 6 December 2016 while on his way to school.
Court records showed that the convict, a native of Itoko village, pursued the child near the school premises and assaulted him, leading to his death.
During the trial, a fellow pupil who was with the victim that morning testified before the court. The witness explained that the incident happened before teachers had arrived at the school and that the victim ran away after being chased.
The child’s body was discovered the following day by villagers, prompting outrage and grief across the community.
Udofia was charged with murder under Section 326(1) of the Criminal Code, Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State.
The prosecution presented four witnesses and tendered five exhibits to support its case, while the defendant also gave evidence in his defence.
In his ruling, Justice Archibong Archibong held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge found the defendant guilty as charged and sentenced him accordingly, marking the end of one of Akwa Ibom’s most disturbing criminal cases.
The verdict closes a painful chapter for the victim’s family and reflects the state’s commitment to upholding justice in cases involving violent crimes against children.
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