Police Begin Manhunt For Killers Of Akwa Ibom Night Guard

Commissioner of police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Waheed Ayilara, has ordered operatives of the command to fish out gunmen who attacked the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC), killing a night guard, identified as Edet Obot.

The firm is the publisher of the state government-owned Pioneer Newspaper.

It was gathered that about six hoodlums lurked around the AKNC premises at about 8 pm on Friday and kept vigil for the editors and reporters to leave before scaling the back walls into the premises to lay ambush.

According to inside sources, the general manager, Mr Umoette Umoette, was said to have been too shocked to respond to the sad incident occurring for the first time in the company. However, a senior journalist who would not want to be identified condemned the incident, describing it as “a dark moment for us in the Pioneer family.”

He recalled that “The sad incident occurred at about 8 pm, when all the routine reporters, editors and other senior management staff had closed and left for the day.

“I think they ambushed the area before entering the compound to wait for the night guards. When the first guard arrived, he unlocked the gate but was immediately overpowered at gunpoint and tied -up to the ground.

“His mouth was stuffed with a wrapped piece of cloth before sealing his entire face, including the nostrils, with sellotape, which prevented his breathing, and he was choked to death because of suffocation.

“The second security guard, who arrived oblivious of the incident, was also seized by the hoodlums, who administered the same jungle treatment on him and had been hospitalised with little hope he might survive,” he narrated.

He said the properties carted away included a generator, flat-screen televisions, electric cables, and other essential items.

Confirming the incident, the police public relations officer (PPRO), ASP Timfon John, said operatives were on the trail of the perpetrators and assured “the police are on top of the situation”.