Okon Bassey in Uyo
The immediate past transition Chairman, Ukanafun Local Government council of Akwa Ibom State, Abasiono Udomfu, who was recently sacked from office, has been arraigned by the police in court.
Udomfu and six other persons were dragged to court for their alleged assassination of the secretary of the council, Ime Atakpa and his political associate, Akaniyene Udoh on Sunday, April 16, 2017.
The other six individuals who are alleged to be principal accomplices in the crime are Godknows Sampson Udoudo alias Archor head/executioner; Godwin Daniel Ikpe a.k.a One-Man-Chop; Aniefiok Eseme Etukudo alias Barbeach–Archor Head; Saturday Etim Isong; Akaninyene Sunday Iwok and Ekere Friday Joseph.
They were reportedly apprehended at their various hideouts in Port Harcourt by detectives and other tactical teams of the State Police Command assembled by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Don Awunah.
Police declared that efforts are being intensified to track some other suspected principal members of the gang who are at large. The suspects include Akaninyene Jumbo Uko alias Iso-Akpafi, who allegedly is the owner and custodian of the group’s firearms; Sunny Inanki and Englishman, all of whom had been fingered in the planning, monitoring and eventual killing of the secretary and his political associate.
Arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Ukanafun, the former council boss and others were charged for conspiracy and the murder of the secretary and his political associate. The post-mortem examination reports confirmed that the deceased persons died of gunshot wounds.
The Police also alleged that Atakpa and his political associate were shot in the morning of April 16, at his poultry farm in his hometown, Ikot Udo Obobo in Ukanafun Local Government; adding that while the council secretary died on the spot, his friend and political associate died on the way to the hospital.
According to Police investigations, the late council secretary was killed because of his alleged opposition to an amnesty programme that was to be granted to members of a secret cult group known as Ice-Land in the area which is contrary to the sentiments held by the Transition Chairman of the LGA and the leadership of the cult group.
Thus, the council chairman reportedly held a meeting on how the assassination of the council secretary would be carried out to pave way for the amnesty programme for the cult group, promising a ‘huge sum of money,’ if the assignment was successful.
Perhaps, in preparation for the assassination, the council chairman’s personal assistant was said to have held a meeting with the former youth leader of the area, Sunday Inanki who is still at large and the current youth chairman of the village, Akaninyene Sunday Iwok to draw out the strategy for the execution of the plan.
The current youth leader was said to have brought in two others namely Godwin Daniel Ikpe alias One- Man-Chop and Akaninyene Jumbo Uko alias Iso Akpafi, a notorious killer also at large.
After the discussion at Ikpe Annang village in Etim Ekpo LGA of the state in April, Udoudo alias “Archor Head/Executioner” who resides in Port was allegedly contacted for the assignment.
In a statement released by the police, the details of the operations prior to the killings were revealed.
“On the 15th April, Akaninyene Jumbo Uko alias Iso Akpafi ‘m’, Godwin Daniel Ikpe ‘m’ alias One-Man-Chop and one Aniefiok Eseme Etukudo alias Barbeach Archo Head met in Ikpe Annang Village in Etim Ekpo LGA of the state, where they reviewed the plan and approved it for execution.
“On 16th April, 2017 at about 0700hrs, the group led by Akaninyene Jumbo Uko ‘alias Iso Akpafi assembled at a hideout in Ikot Udo- Obobo. Two of the members, Englishman and Saturday Etim Isong alias Saty who had earlier used motorcycles to spy on the secretary, were again sent to confirm his presence at his poultry farm. This they did and immediately returned to kill the secretary.
“The two guns used in the operation were supplied by Akaninyene Jumbo Uko a.k.a Iso- Akpafi, a notorious killer on the wanted list of the Police.
“Back in the farm at about 0930hrs, Aniefiok Eseme Etukudo a.k.a Barbeach-Archor Head fired the secretary point-blank while Englishman fired into the air to scare away the secretary’s guests with whom he was celebrating the Easter.
“The secretary died on the spot while one of his guests, Akaninyene Udo Aka ‘m’ who was hit by a bullet, later died in the hospital. The assassins left with the deceased’s two handsets they took from his pockets and a motorcycle,” it read.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), a Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP), Chukwu Ikechukwu in a statement restated the State Police Commissioner’s unwavering commitment to rid the state of all forms of crime and criminality.
He called on law abiding and public spirited individuals to provide the Police with useful information to carry out its statutory duties in order to achieve the primary objective of ensuring safety of lives and property.
