Gunmen kill AKTC driver, leave 8 passengers with bullet wounds
Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have attacked an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) commercial bus, killed the driver and left at least eight passengers with bullet wounds. The incident was said to have happened on Wednesday at the Edem Akai section of the Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Abak Highway in Akwa Ibom State at 1:22pm when the […]
Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have attacked an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) commercial bus, killed the driver and left at least eight passengers with bullet wounds.
The incident was said to have happened on Wednesday at the Edem Akai section of the Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Abak Highway in Akwa Ibom State at 1:22pm when the bus conveying passengers from Etim Ekpo to Uyo ran into a hail of bullets fired by the gunmen suspected to belong to Iceland cult group who blocked the major road.
An eye-witness, Udoesen Philips, said the AKTC driver attempted to escape from the gunmen when they opened fire at the bus from close range.
He said a woman and three other passengers were hit by the bullets.
“They blocked the road and started robbing every vehicle. The AKTC bus ran into them, but was trying to escape when the gunmen, numbering about six, started firing at close range.
“One woman and three other passengers were caught by the bullets. The intensity of the pump action rifle, AK-47, and other weapons sparked fire and engulfed the bus.
“When I heard the gunshots, I escaped into Edem Akai Primary School with my motorcycle and watched the drama from there. After robbing the passengers, they stopped an oncoming Toyota Camry, seized it from the owner and escaped with it.
“They took the untarred road through Udianga Enem into their base in Okoyo village, while others followed the stolen car with the motorcycles that they came with,” Philips said.
It was gathered that the hoodlums also robbed nearby shops of cash and other belongings as the owners scampered for safety.
Policemen, who usually blocked the Ikot Nya section of the highway, were said to have escaped into their van to flee from the scene.
Akwa-Ibom Police Command Spokesperson, Odiko Ogbeche, confirmed the incident, but said he was yet to be fully briefed by the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Office in-charge of Etim Ekpo.