Gunmen Rain Bullets At Akpabio’s Residence While In A Meeting

LAGOS AUGUS 23RD (NESRANGERS)-Attempts by unknown gunmen to attack the Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area residence of the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Godswill Akpabio yesterday night was repelled by policemen attached to the former Senate Minority Leader.
Eye witness account said the Senator was holding political meetings on Tuesday night at his country home when unknown gunmen numbering about 10 stormed his residence and shot sporadically causing a stampede.
According to our source, the incident brought the meeting into a temporary halt as those present in the meeting scampered for safety while the shooting continued unabated.
A retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Udom Ekpoudom who was also present at the political meeting at the time of the incident was seen making frantic calls for security beef up to help repel the attack.
However, security men attached to the resident after recovering from the initial shock were said to have responded gallantly with superior firepower which forced a retreat from the invading attackers.
According to Mr Raymond Inim who witnessed the incident, “we were holding a meeting with our leader, Senator Akpabio when suddenly people who were not part of the meeting ran into the Senator’s banquet hall where the meeting was held.
“The Senator inquired to know the cause of the commotion and before someone could explain, sounds of sporadic gunshots rented the air. It lasted for a while before the situation was brought under control and we had to end the meeting abruptly,” he said.
It was not immediately clear what the motives of the attackers were but eye witnesses said the gestapo manner the gunmen struck and disappeared called for security beef up around the former Senate Minority Leader who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Media aide to Senator Akpabio, Mr Anietie Ekong confirmed the incident and said the matter has been reported to security agencies in the state.
According to him “Unknown gunmen are presently shooting Sporadic shooting by unknown gunmen at the Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udom LGA. country home of the former Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Divisional Police Officer and Commissioner of Police should intervene.
However, an indigene of the area Mr mfonobong Ukpong who spoke with our correspondent described the incident as an armed robbery attack on a filling station within the vinicity of the senators home.
The Commissioner of Police (CP), Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunyemilusi, has denied allegation that suspected gunmen attacked former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s residence, disrupting a high-profile political meeting holding there Tuesday night.
The CP said six hoodlums on two motorcycles invaded a petrol station near Akpabio’s house and robbed the pump attendants of the day’s sales, and customers.
“It was just a mere coincidence that the incident happened at about 7:30PM, on Tuesday, August 21, when the meeting was ongoing at His Excellency’s residence.
“Immediately the hoodlums attacked the filling station, somebody at the meeting called me. The Area Commander and other policemen were drafted to the scene and within minutes, security was restored.
“You know how Ikot Ekpene is with these hoodlums on motorcycles. So it just a flash incident of petty thieves robbing a filling station near the residence of His Excellency.
“Even our quick response was applauded by His Excellency when he came out of the meeting to see our men heavily on guard around the area, so nobody should overheat the polity because of politics”, the CP warned.

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