Gunmen Kill Two Soldiers In Akwa Ibom

Yet-to-be identified gunmen have killed two soldiers and abducted an expatriate in the Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Naija News reports that the expatriate engineer working with Al Madal construction company was inspecting the construction of Ikot Ibritam, Inen Ekeffe and Odoro Ikot to Ukanafun road on Wednesday, July 17, before he was whisked away to an unknown location.

A witness told reporters that the soldiers were killed along Idim Okpok mini bridge in Inen Ekeffe the boundary village between Oruk Anam and Ukanafun.

Idiok said the gunmen killed the soldiers before they could abduct the expatriate.

“There was sporadic shootings here and before you knew what was happening, two soldiers were dead,” he said.

“The gunmen also escaped with the soldiers’ guns and took the expatriate to their hideout. Everybody here is in panic, we do not know what the government will do in this matter.”

Similarly, the clan head of Inen, Johnson Obosi while confirming the report said that the community was organising the burial of one of its sons when gunshots boomed, sparking tension.

“The next report was that two soldiers attached to an expatriate working on the road construction project that links my community with Ukanafun have been killed and the expatriate abducted,” he said.

While confirming the incident on Thursday, police public relations officer in Akwa Ibom, Odiko Macdon was quoted by The Cable to have said the command was aware of the incident and was working with the sister security agencies in the state to bring the killers to book and free the expatriate from the hands of his kidnappers.

“We have received information about the unfortunate dastardly incident at the road project in Ikot Ibritam, Inen Ekeffe leading to Ukanafun. We are working with our sister agencies to identity, arrest and prosecute those involved,” he said.

Macdon appealed to residents of the community to remain calm and go about their normal duties.