A 54-year-old Customs officer, Etteng Ise, has died in a lone road crash on the Ikom-Calabar Highway in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State. Ise, who was serving at the Mfum Border in Etung Local Government Area, reportedly lost control of his vehicle while attempting to avoid a pothole near Alesi Village.
The vehicle veered off the highway and crashed into a tree at about 2:56pm on Monday, 7 September 2026. Ise was rushed to Holy Family Hospital in Ikom for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor. His remains were subsequently deposited at the hospital mortuary.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah. According to the command, preliminary information indicated that the crash involved only Ise’s vehicle. Police said he lost control while attempting to manoeuvre around a pothole on the highway.
The command expressed condolences to Ise’s family, colleagues and the Nigeria Customs Service. It also urged motorists to exercise caution on the state’s roads, particularly when approaching potholes and other hazards. The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers posed by potholes and other road defects along the Ikom-Calabar Highway, an important route linking communities and local government areas across the state.