Gunmen Storm Church in Akwa Ibom Kill Akpabio’s man, Injure Policeman

SIX gunmen stormed a church on Sunday in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and shot dead a man identified as Chief Paul Inyang, a former assistant zonal secretary of the South-South and a state caucus member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), heading the re-election campaign of Governor Godswill Akpabio in the council area. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Walter Rugbere, who confirmed the incident which occurred at about 11.30 a.m. as the church service was ongoing, disclosed that it occurred at Ebenezer Anglican Church. According to him, the gunmen were six in number and they came on three motorbikes, walked into the church, identified their target, called him out and shot him repeatedly, until they confirmed him dead. The police arrived promptly at the scene after being alerted and succeeded in arresting one of the suspects after an exchange of gunfire that left a policeman injured. According to a witness, the church service was promptly brought to a close as members scampered for safety after the late Inyang was shot repeatedly outside. Another version of the story had it that the man moved to his car and tried to escape, but was shot repeatedly and the gunmen confirmed him dead before they left. It was also gathered that the victim died while being rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. Reacting to the incident, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said the state government condemned the act and said it would do everything possible to support the police to get to the root of the matter as initial information from the police revealed that some arrests had been made and they were on top of the situation. Nigerian Tribune gathered that there was a manhunt for the ring leader who has already been identified by the police. Sources revealed that the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, recently petitioned the presidency on alleged plans by the opposition to cause mayhem and assassinate his core loyalists in the state.