Gunmen Attack Local Government Boss, Kill Police Orderly

A Police corporal attached to the Transition Committee Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Cletus Ekpo, was killed on Monday when suspected “armed robbers”  opened fire on their vehicle.

It was learnt that bullets also hit Cletus and his driver, but his orderly died immediately, as he was said to have sustained fatal injuries from the shooting.

Our correspondent gathered that Cletus and his team were returning from the bank where he had earlier collected some money, but the assailants were said to have left without snatching the money.

Cletus is a younger brother to Paul Ekpo, the Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the state.

He said that the assailants trailed him to Mbiokporo Bridge in Enen Nsit, Etinan, where they shot his vehicle at close range.

Cletus said, “I came out of a bank where I went to do a transaction. We then drove on to Aka-Etinan Road en route Etinan, where I noticed that a car was trailing us.

“As we got close to the Mbiokporo Bridge, the car drove closer and the next thing we heard were gun shots directed at us, while the attackers also made demands for the money.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe,  confirmed the incident.

She said that both the chairman and the driver were responding to treatment in a hospital.

She said, “The Police corporal attached to Etinan Local Government Transition chairman died while trying to shield his principal from armed robbers. The chairman and the driver are responding to treatment in a hospital.”

Meanwhile,  the Akwa Ibom State government has issued a statement forbidding members of the public from gathering around banking premises or where ATMs are installed.

The statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, explained that government has directed Police to commence general stop-and-search exercise with immediate effect.

“Consequently, loitering around financial institutions, particularly ATM booths, will not be tolerated and all those who have no business around ATMs in all parts of the state should steer clear,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cletus’ supporters have protested what they described as “assassination attempt.” They vowed not to take it kindly with anybody or group found to be connected with the crime.