Lawmaker, 13 Others Fingered In Murder Of Village Head, Declared Wanted In A’Ibom

A Supervisory Councillor for Finance in Okobo local government area of Akwa Ibom, Nkereuwem John, is among the 14 persons wanted by the police for the killing of a traditional ruler in the state.

BIGPEN learned that the trio who were accused of masterminding the killing of the monarch, were on Wednesday declared wanted after evading arrest.

The traditional ruler, one Chief Henry Esimeme, who heads the village of Nsie Esimeme was reportedly killed on Sunday.

The Police from Akwa Ibom State Command says the Supervisory Councillor for Finance in the Council allegedly connived with a Youth Leader, Usong Morrison John to mastermind the crime. 

Public Relations Officer(PPRO), CSP Frederick N-Nudam confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said that the Commissioner of Police,  Imohimi Edgal ordered the arrest of the suspects for allegedly taking laws into their hands by avenging the death of a former Youth President of the Village, Aniefiok Mkpo-Abasi.

According to him, Aniefiok Mkpo-Abasi allegedly died after drinking some local gins mixed with herbal concoction in the house of Sunday Walter Ukoh, thereby sparking the suspicion and anger that he was deliberately killed. 

The PPRO also stated that the Command has arrested 15 persons for allegedly taking laws into their hands, when they should have adopted a legitimate approach to settle the crisis in the area.

“The Police Command received a disturbing report of mayhem in Nsie village occasioned by an incident in which the former youth president of Nsie village, one Aniefiok Mkpo-Abasi a.k.a King of Boys was alleged to have died on 12th July, 2020 on suspicion of drinking some local gins mixed with herbal concoction in the house of one Sunday Walter Ukoh of the same address.

“Following the incident, some disgruntled youths and elders of Nsie village under the aegis of the youth president, one Usong Morrison John and Nkereuwem John the Supervisory Councilor for Finance, Okobo Local Government Area arose from a meeting held at the village square and allegedly attacked and killed the village head of Nsie, one Chief Henry Esimeme and Sunday Walter Ukoh. 

“In a related development, the hoodlums set a house on fire while another one was damaged.

“The Commissioner of Police immediately deployed patrol teams to the village and restored normalcy while fifteen (15) of the suspects fingered in the incident were arrested in two separate operations on 15th and 19th July, 2020. 

“However, the Commissioner of Police wondered why the people did not take advantage of the community policing platform already in the area to resolve all differences, but rather resorted to jungle justice and at the end committed murder”, N-Nudam said. 

He disclosed that special units of the police command have been mandated to fish out other culprits currently on the run. 

“To ensure sustainable peace, order, and apprehension of other suspects , the Tactical Teams and the State Intelligence Bureau Personnel have been deployed to the affected area while a high-powered investigation panel under the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State CID has been constituted and mandated to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Again, the CP warns other suspected perpetrators of the crime who had deserted or fled from the community to report at the nearest police station in their own interest or risk arrest and prosecution.

“The Commissioner of Police appeals to the good people of Akwa Ibom State, particularly the indigenes of Nsie village to volunteer useful information on the whereabouts of the above wanted persons for arrest and investigation”, he said.