The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr , Odiko MacDon who confirmed the gruesome murder of Osang to newsmen on Thursday simply said: “We have received that information and it is an unfortunate situation.
There is palpable tension in Akwa Ibom State capital following the rising incidents of killings by hoodlums that have been terrorising the state in recent times.
The beheading of a police inspector simply identified as Inspector Osang by a gang reportedly numbering over 10 on Wednesday at about 8:30pm is the latest of the gruesome killings.
Findings revealed that the Police Inspector was returning to his residence located around Afahaube and Enen Afaha areas when the hoodlum sighted him on the street and decided to murder him.
A resident of the area told Vanguard in confidence that “after they had killed the Police officer they were not even in a hurry to leave. In fact somebody I learned decided to call the Police control room, but before they arrived the hoodlums were gone.
“In fact what baffled people was that after killing the man, they didn’t run, they only walked away, but not in a group”
Also another source told newsmen that the armed gang had shot sporadically into the air to scare away passersby, and residents of the area before killing the police officer.
No fewer than five people have been killed in the same manner by the hoodlums in the Month of January alone.
Just last week, the headless body of a woman was discovered around the Banking Layout, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.
A resident of Afaha Ube in Itam community, disclosed that also lifeless body of a woman was found in a refuse dump early this week.
“This particular incident has not been reported yet. In fact I have heard all of the other ones reported on radio stations in the state, except this one. The corpse has been evacuated since”, our source who simply identified himself as Joseph asserted on Thursday.
Similarly, dismembered body of a young woman tuck in a Ghana-must-Go bag and dumped by the roadside at Nwaniba, Uyo metropolis was discovered on Tuesday this week.
It could be recalled that a woman was reportedly killed and her body found at Banking Layout, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo last week, while lifeless body of a man was also dumped at Ikot Ikono junction same last week.
Besides the killings, it could be recalled that the state also recorded some cases of Kidnapping in 2023.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr , Odiko MacDon who confirmed the gruesome murder of Osang to newsmen on Thursday simply said: “We have received that information and it is an unfortunate situation.
“Already, investigation is ongoing and we are committed to ridding the streets of criminal elements. Again, we are not dettered and we are committed to ensuring that, criminal minded persons will account for their actions”
Worried over the development, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno while hosting out-going service commanders Wednesday night issued serious warning to the perpetrators.
He was even quick to disclose that credible intelligence reveals that they (perpetrators) were receiving support from the people just to disrupt existing peace in the state.
His words: “In the few days of transition of Service Commanders, there have been attempts to test our resolve in the area of security. I want to assure Akwaibomite that this State is safe and secure. We will stop at nothing in ensuring the safety of our people.
“We are drawing up a new security architecture for the state and in the next few months, you will see the results and how serious we are. So if criminals believe that Akwa Ibom State is a place for them to hibernate, I am warning them now that they will find this state too hot for them to stay.
“We have credible intelligence that some in our society, those living among us, are giving support, aid and comfort to these criminal elements just to upturn the peace in our state and use it as a narrative”
Meanwhile some concerned citizens of the state have reasoned that the state government and security agencies must get cracking to ensure that the security situation does become overwhelming.