FEAR has enveloped the students’ community of Idak Okpo, on the Uyo metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, following incessant attacks unleashed on the area by armed gangs.
At the weekend, the siege, which was usually in the early hours of the morning between 2:30 and 4:00a.m, according to the community chairman, Chief Eno Clement, had forced many students to relocate from the area.
At least, two persons were fatally shot by the gunmen, including a youths corps member, Miss Victoria Waribo, and John Linus Ekarika, a student at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), who are currently receiving treatment in a hospital in the state capital.
According to the landlord of the victims, Ubon Aniedi Etim, “it was the turn of my house at number 18, Idak Okpo Lane, to be attacked, and two of my tenants, one Victoria Waribo, a serving corps member and John Linus Ekarika, a student of University of Uyo, suffered severe gunshot wounds”.
He told Metro that laptops, mobile phones, cash and other valuables were carted away by the hoodlums, who broke into the compound between 2:45 and 3:50a.m. and robbed every tenant in the house..
When contacted, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in-charge of the case at ‘A’ Division, Barracks Road, Uyo, Mr Uwem Bassey, confirmed the incident, saying preliminary investigation has commenced, adding that no arrest had been made.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Donald Awunah, however, assured residents of protection, but frowned on the attitudes of some people who, according to him, were in the habit of not reporting crimes and criminal elements to the law-enforcement agents.
He urged the civil society groups and individuals to complement efforts by the police in crime fighting by always reporting suspicious characters and their activities on time to the police for quick response.
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