EPU Raises Alarm Over Arrest of Ekid Rights Advocate, Demands Police Accountability

EPU Raises Alarm Over Arrest of Ekid Rights Advocate, Demands Police Accountability

By Akpan Akata 

The Ekid People’s Union (EPU) has confirmed the arrest of Princess God’sown Udoito, a prominent advocate for Ekid indigenous rights, by the Nigeria Police Force, raising concerns over her safety and the circumstances surrounding her detention.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and signed by the National President of the Union, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, and the Secretary General, Bar. (Sir) Hon. Bassey Dan-Abia, the EPU disclosed that Princess Udoito was taken away from Eket by police operatives earlier in the afternoon.

According to the Union, neither the EPU leadership nor police authorities in Eket Local Government Area and Esit Eket Local Government Area have been able to confirm her current whereabouts as at the time of the statement. The Union said it is making concerted efforts to establish contact with her and ascertain the basis for her arrest.

Princess Udoito is widely known for her vocal advocacy on behalf of the Ekid people over the ownership and rights issues surrounding the Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve, also known as Akoiyak Ekid. The long-standing dispute over the forest reserve has, in recent times, intensified, drawing increased public attention and community tension.

While stressing that it has no intention of escalating the already sensitive situation, the EPU said it considered it a duty to alert the general public, human rights organisations, and the international community to closely monitor developments. The Union warned that the arrest could signal a broader clampdown on advocacy efforts related to Ekid ancestral land rights.

The EPU further called on the police to ensure that Princess Udoito is treated with dignity and in strict adherence to the rule of law. It specifically demanded that her fundamental human rights be respected, including the constitutional requirement that any arrested person be charged to court within 24 hours, as provided for under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Union reaffirmed its commitment to lawful and peaceful advocacy and urged security agencies to act transparently in handling matters connected to the ongoing Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve dispute.