Two Killed, 13 Vehicles Burnt in Akwa Ibom

Two persons were yesterday killed and thirteen vehicles destroyed on the eve of the postponed presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State.

Sources told THISDAY that the incident occurred on Friday night at Nto Edino, the Headquarters of Obot-Akara Local Government Council of state.

The hoodlums were said to have invaded the council headquarters and attempted to hijack the sensitive materials for the elections while being distributed to officials.

In the course of the invasion there was an exchange of fire between the hoodlums suspected to be political thugs and security operatives which led to the death of the two persons.

“As we speak two persons have been killed and thirteen vehicles burnt down already in the Local Government headquarters. The crisis started between the security personnel and some thugs when INEC staffs were distributing sensitive materials for the elections.” a source said.

In a reaction yesterday, the senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Dr Chris Ekpenyong, said some All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts in the local government area were responsible for the crisis.

Ekpenyong, who hailed from Obot-Akara said he was in Uyo monitoring the distribution of the materials when news got to him that there was crisis going in the local government and that two persons have been killed and buses destroyed.

Ekpenyong said he knows those who instigated the crisis and had already made a formal complaint to the police authorities to pick them up in order to prevent future occurrence of the crisis.