Police speak on ‘attack on Senator Akpabio’s residence’ by unknown gunmen

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunyemilusi, has denied allegation that suspected gunmen attacked former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s residence, disrupting a high-profile political meeting holding there Tuesday night.

The marathon meeting, according to the CP, lasted till the early hours of Wednesday, August 22, amid tight security following gun scare about 200 metres to Senator Akpabio’s residence in his hometown, Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area.

It was gathered that unknown gunmen on motorbikes shot randomly and scared prominent politicians who scampered for safety, forcing the meeting to be temporarily halted for about one hour.

Although there was exchange of gunshots from security officials at the meeting, the CP said six hoodlums on two motorcycles invaded a petrol station near Akpabio’s house and robbed the pump attendants of the day’s sales, and customers.

“It was just a mere coincidence that the incident happened at about 7:30PM, on Tuesday, August 21, when the meeting was ongoing at His Excellency’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 His Excellency.

“Even our quick response was applauded by His Excellency 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”, the CP warned.

In the same vein, the media aide to Senator Akpabio, Mr. Anietie Ekong, confirmed the shooting, but said “the Police arrived early to put the situation under control”.