Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced the arrest of 8 suspected killers of the secretary of Ukanafun local government, Obong Ime Willie Atakpa.
Atakpa was murdered on Easter Sunday, precisely on April 16th 2017, by four suspected assassins, who drove in a motor bike into his poultry farm, near his house, and shot him dead.
The state commissioner of police, CP Donald Awunah, who announced the arrest at a briefing weekend at the command headquarters in Uyo, said the suspects were arrested at various locations and dates in Portharcourt, Rivers State.
Awuanah said all of them have not only confessed to their involvement in the crime, but have also named the chairman Transition Management Committee of the council, Barrister Abasiono Jackson Udomfu, as the sponsor.
The suspects include, Godwin Daniel Ikpe ‘alias one man Chop’, Aniefiok Eseme Etukudu Alias Barbeach-Archor and Saturday Etim Isong Alias Saty.
Other suspected killers are, English man, AkaniyeneSunday iwok, Aniedi Okon Udoessien, Ekere FridayJoseph and others.
The commissioner announced that all of them had been charged to court for criminal conspiracy and murder.
He said, “The suspects have all been charged to court for conspiracy and murder of the secretary, Obong Ime Willie Atakpa.
“Meanwhile, efforts are still ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects and recover the weapons used in the dastardly act.”
Awunah mentioned weapons recovered from the suspects to include one handset belonging to the deceased secretary and one red Quink 125 motorcycle.
The state police boss who used the briefing to highlight major achievements of the command during the period under review disclosed that the command also arrested 12 members of notorious cult group in Eket local government and recovered dangerous weapon and a human skull.
“On 13/05/2017 information gathered from Ikot Udota community, at Eket division, revealed that a group of young men suspected to be cultists were beating drums, dancing and shooting gun around the area.
“They were cordoned and arrested along with seven females suspects by police men from the Eket Division.”
Items recovered from the group, according to the commissioner include one human skull, 4 locally made pistols, 2 lives cartridges and 8 expended cartridges, 7 drums and mystic charms and large quantity of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and three face caps.
