Hoodlums attack passenger bus, kill one, injure three

One person has been confirmed dead and three others injured when hoodlums attacked a passenger bus at Ikot Mkporikpo axis of the Abak-Iwukem Road in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State and Deputy Superintendent, Odiko Ogbeche, who confirmed the incident yesterday in Uyo said […]

One person has been confirmed dead and three others injured when hoodlums attacked a passenger bus at Ikot Mkporikpo axis of the Abak-Iwukem Road in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State and Deputy Superintendent, Odiko Ogbeche, who confirmed the incident yesterday in Uyo said the police are on the trail of the hoodlums and would soon bring them to justice.

He noted that the hoodlums shot sporadically at the bus in a bid to stop it after the driver who was flagged down by the hoodlums refused to stop.

He added that another bus, whose driver was trying to flee the scene, veered off the road, crashed into a building and caught fire as the driver lost control.

Ogbeche revealed that the bus belonged to Akwa Ibom Transport Company and some of the occupants bled profusely ‘because the driver refused to stop and drop the affected passengers at the nearby health centre for treatment.’

He said, “One of the injured passengers died on the way because the driver was afraid and refused to stop after the shooting incident. He insisted on reaching safety in Aba before discharging the injured for treatment, but along the road, one died before reaching the hospital in Aba.”

The PRO expressed worry over the activities of the hoodlums, wondering why they have refused to heed the directive of the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who asked them to lay down their arms for amnesty, rehabilitation and re-integration.

Governor Emmanuel had during his visit to the area a week ago, donated relief materials to thousands of community dwellers in both Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun LGAs displaced by the prolong security crises in the area. 

Ogbeche said religious organisations have been drafted in for spiritual solution as the crises has continued unabated even in the face of sustained interventions by security forces.

“As I am talking to you now, we are praying right now at the Utu Etim Ekpo Local Government Secretariat for solution to these crises,” he said.