Akpabio Security Operatives, Hoodlums on Shooting Duel in A’Ibom

Bullets were flying carelessly last Tuesday in the country home of Senator Godswill Akpabio, Ukana Ikot Ntue village, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as security operatives engaged hoodlums in a shooting bout.

The gunmen numbering about six using two motorcycles had robbed a petrol station, a stone throw from the residence of the former senate minority leader shooting sporadically to scare passers-by.

 Attracted by the noise of the gun shots from the hoodlums, security details to Senator Akpabio were said to have responded immediately but no live was lost or any casualty recoded.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunyemilusi, said the action was not a confrontation with Senator Akpabio who was holding a political meeting in his residence.

“It was just a mere coincidence that the incident happened at about 7:30PM, on August 21, when the meeting was on-going at Akpabio's residence.

“Immediately the hoodlums attacked the filling station, somebody at the meeting called me. The Area Commander and other policemen were drafted to the scene and within minutes, security was restored.

“You know how Ikot Ekpene is with these hoodlums on motorcycles. So it just a flash incident of petty thieves robbing a filling station near the residence of Akpabio.

“Even our quick response was applauded by the senator when he came out of the meeting to see our men heavily on guard around the area, so nobody should overheat the polity because of politics.” he said.

Those who attended the meeting that last till the early hour of Wednesday in the Akpabio’s house reportedly took cover for their dear lives over the gun shot scare.

“We were holding a meeting with our leader, Senator Akpabio when suddenly people who were not part of the meeting ran into the Senator’s banquet hall where the meeting was held.

“The Senator inquired to know the cause of the commotion and before someone could explain, sounds of sporadic gun shots rented the air. It lasted for a while before the situation was brought under control and we had to end the meeting abruptly,”  a source said.

The media aide to Akpabio, Mr. Anietie Ekong, said: “The senator was at home holding political meeting with some APC groups. A retired deputy inspector-general police (DIG), Udom Ekpoudom, was in that meeting. Bishop Samuel Akpan was also there. I was there as an observer. We were in the banquet hall.

“Suddenly, people who were not part of the meeting rushed into the banquet hall, so the senator enquired from them what was going on. Before anybody could explain, we heard gunshots outside.

“The chief detail to the senator put out a radio message to all the policemen and other security men in the compound that they should be alert that there is an attack,” he said.

He lauded the security operatives for their quick intervention to bring everything under control.