By Ado Oyeyemi
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of the Founder and General Overseer of Power in the Word of God for the World Ministries, Oron, Pastor Etetim Udo.
The command said preliminary findings suggest the cleric may have died by suicide, but stressed that investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether any other factors were involved.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo on Saturday.
According to the statement, the command received a distress call at about 8:18 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from a resident who reported an unusual gathering at the church premises where he normally parks his motorcycle.
The resident reportedly told officers that the deceased’s children informed him that their father had been found dead inside the church.
Following the report, police operatives were deployed to the scene, where investigators carried out preliminary examinations and documented the area.
The command said relevant exhibits were recovered to support forensic analysis and the ongoing investigation.
The statement added that the pastor’s body was taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor before being deposited at a mortuary for an autopsy.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has commenced a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Pastor Etetim Udo, Founder and General Overseer of Power in the Word of God for the World Ministries,” the statement said.
It noted that while initial observations point to a suspected suicide, detectives would carry out a thorough investigation to establish the facts and rule out any other possible cause of death.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, assured residents that the investigation would be conducted professionally, impartially and thoroughly.
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He appealed to anyone with useful information that could assist detectives to come forward and cooperate with the police, while urging members of the public to avoid spreading unverified claims or engaging in speculation that could hamper the investigation or cause unnecessary public anxiety.
