The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has refuted a media report that two policemen died and two missing during a rescue operation in a local community in Akwa Ibom State.
DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu, Police Public Relation Officer, Akwa Ibom State, in a statement condemned the publication on page seven of the Vanguard Newspaper of 24th April, 2017 on the above issue, protesting that the report is false and misleading.
DSP Ikechukwu narrated that on 19/4/2017, the Command received information from a concerned citizen that a young man by name Udo Nice Nyong ‘m’ of Ekom Iman Village in Etinan LGA, who was accused of stealing African salad popularly known as Afang, was abducted and tortured to death on the prompting of the youth leader of the village, one Unyime Isaiah Joshua ‘m’. “The young man was said to be buried in a shallow grave in the family compound at Ekom Iman. The information was subsequently verified by the Anti Kidnapping Squad of the Command to be true,” he said.
The statement further revealed: “Consequently, on 21/4/2017, a team of the Anti-kidnapping Squad comprising one Inspector and 3 others went to Ekom Iman to invite the said youth leader, Unyime Isaiah Joshua ‘m’ for interview. In the process, the policemen were ambushed by youths numbering over seventy armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons. One of the policemen, Sergeant Daniel Nwankwo, was inflicted with cutlass wounds and later abducted to an unknown place. He has not been seen till date. One Ubong Isaiah ‘m’, a notorious kidnapper, armed robber and head of cult on the wanted list of the Command, attempted forcefully to disarm one other policeman after savagely inflicting cutlass injuries on him. In the process, Ubong Isaiah was hit by a bullet and he died. Another policeman was chased to the village head’s house where he was also dealt several cutlass injuries. He is presently receiving treatment in the hospital.”
The PPRO also said that an unmarked car, Mercedes 190 saloon Car with Reg. No. LWL 306, used by the policemen in the operation was damaged and burnt to ashes by the rampaging youths who also made away with three police rifles. Two of the rifles have, however, been recovered while one is still missing, he said.
DSP Ikechukwu contended that, “It is not true, therefore, as erroneously claimed in the Vanguard publication that six persons including two policemen died in the incident.” He observed that the incident was also not in any manner provoked by the police team who were on lawful duty, adding that the youths in the area, without provocation, merely took law into their hands, vowing that they will be dealt with appropriately.
DSP Ikechukwu acknowledged that the Command enjoys cordial and rancour-free relationship with the media over the years in the collaborative efforts to keep Akwa Ibom State safe from crime and criminality. “In light of this, it is advisable that news reporters should take time to cross check their facts and figures with the Command on any incident and case of interest before going to the press,” he cautioned.