Gunmen Set Police Officer, Station Ablaze In Akwa Ibom
By Udeme Utip-UYO
Gunmen suspected to be cultists attacked and set ablaze a divisional police station in Essie Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The latest arson came barely one week after hoodlums attacked officers of the Quick Response Squad and burnt to death one police inspector inside a police van at Ikpe Annang Junction in the same local government area.
A source close to the government area disclosed that the hoodlums, numbering over hundred, stormed the police station in the early hours of Monday and burnt the offices, including unserviceable vehicles and motorcycles at the station.
According to the source, there was no loss of lives during the attack, just as the chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Mr Anthony Luke, condemned the attack on the police station, describing it as an act of cowardice.
“The council will not be intimidated in the war against criminalities in the area” Luke said, dismissing insinuations that the attacks were politically motivated.
He noted that similar incidents had happened in neighbouring states and other parts of the country and called on the people of Essien Udim to remain calm and go about their legitimate businesses as everything is under control.
The local council chairman also assured that the council is working assiduously in collaboration with the state government and security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, confirmed the burning down of the station and assured that investigation is ongoing to unravel the perpetrators.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, had visited the station for an on-the-spot assessment.
“I can confirm that our station was torched in an attempt on our facility by the hoodlums. The Commissioner of Police has visited the station for an on-the-spot assessment. Investigation is still ongoing. No live was lost and no rifle carted away,” he said.
