Akwa Ibom police deny attack near Akpabio's home was politically motivated saying it was common criminals

MEN of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have dismissed suggestions that former senate minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio was attacked by armed thugs this week pointing out that the gunmen were armed robbers attacking a nearby petrol station.

On Tuesday night, Senator Akpabio, a former governor and currently the legislator representing the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District,  said his hometown residence in Ukana, in Essien Udim Local Government Area, was attacked by 10 gunmen during a political meeting with his supporters. However, the police said hoodlums attacked a filling station near the senator’s house and not his residence.

Over the last month, Senator Akpabio left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of which he has been a member since 1999 and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His defection has heightened political tension in the state and APC is accusing his opponents of consequently attacking his home.

Anietie Ekong, Senator Akpabio's spokesman, said: “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 have been repelled by gallant policemen attached to the former senate minority leader.”

He added that Senator Akpabio was holding political meetings on Tuesday night at his country home when 10 gunmen stormed his residence and shot sporadically causing stampede. According to Mr Ekong,  the shooting brought the meeting to a temporary halt as attendees scampered for safety.

Furthermore, Mr Ekong added that retired deputy inspector general of police Udom Ekpoudom, who was at the meeting made frantic calls for a security beef-up. He explained that the security men attached to Senator Akpabio’s residence responded gallantly with superior fire power which forced a retreat from the invading attackers.

However, Adeyemi Ogunyemilusi the Akwa Ibom State police commissioner denied that gunmen attacked Senator Akpabio’s residence. He admitted that there was a gun scare about 200 metres from Senator Akpabio’s residence but added that what happened was that six hoodlums on two motorcycles invaded a filling station nearby and robbed the pump attendants of the day’s sales.

Mr Ogunyemilusi added: “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 and 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 is 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.”

However, Ini Okopido the Akwa Ibom State chairman of the APC and Iniobong John, the APC National Youth Caucus chairman, have blamed the PDP for attack. Mr Okopido said the unprovoked attack on Senator Akpabio’s residence was unwarranted.

He added: “The APC family will not tolerate such unwarranted attacks on any of her members/leaders. The hoodlums, while shooting sporadically around the environment, robbed passers-by and a nearby petrol station.

“Even though the incidence was promptly reported to the state commissioner of police by the retired deputy inspector-general, Udom Ekpoudom, who witnessed the attack and the commissioner responded by sending police reinforcement to the scene, such an action by unguided miscreants is unacceptable and condemnable. Politicians should play by the rules to forestall reprisals.”