NO fewer than six persons, including two policemen, were killed at the weekend during violent confrontation between armed youths and operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.
An unconfirmed report had it that another critically-injured policeman died while receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, while two AK-47 rifles were also seized from the police during the attack.
The incident, Metro gathered, occurred at Obot Ndom community in Etinan Local Government Area, when the police stormed the community to arrest some suspected criminals.
According to security sources, trouble started when a teenager, who was caught stealing edible cassava snacks, was beaten to death by angry youths of the community.
“When they beat him to death, his remains were taken to the next village and buried in a shallow grave in the bush. The incident was reported to the police, who later stormed the community for investigation and arrest of the suspects,” the source explained.
The angry youths, it was learnt, resisted and forced the three policemen and a driver to retreat.
The police later reinforced with more men, including operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), leading to a bloody clash.
In the shootout that followed, the gang leader, simply identified as Ubong Isaiah, former Chairman of Task Force on sale of stickers to truck drivers, was killed by the police, forcing the youth to go on a mob action against the police.
The gang, heavily-armed with sophisticated guns and charms, were said to have overpowered the policemen, killed two and severely injured one who ran to the palace of the village head, popularly called Eteidung.
However, a source in the village linked the crisis to a family feud involving the late task force man, who was alleged to have beaten up his sister for insulting his wife.
“The late Ubong’s younger sister insulted Ubong’s wife over an argument, but Ubong became angry and beat up the sister who later called in the police,” the source explained.
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