ACN and PDP supporters clash in Akwa Ibom

The death toll during the clash between supporters of the Action Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State may have reached 20.

Aside from human loses, the clash consumed 1300 brand new cars and tricycles at the Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat; three vehicles including a Hummer Sports Utility Vehicle at Senator Aloysius Etok's Fortune High School Uyo. Also torched was the Goodluck/Akpabio campaign storey building. Four PDP supporters reportedly lost their genitals while 65 ACN supporters are in police net.

Governor Godswill Akpabio who gave the inventory on the side of PDP and state government said the 800 vehicles burnt at the state secretariat were the handiwork of the opposition that wanted to create insecurity in the state so that it could attract a state of emergency. The vehicles, including some tri-cycles were those purchased by the state government to be distributed to okada riders when the commercial motorcycles would have been banned in the state.

“I was in Mkpat Enin LGA and Abak campaigning. When I was coming back I was told not to take Abak road where the ACN candidate lives; that I should divert because I was going to be attacked. You must note that I had been attacked on that road several times by the people holding brooms. Each time my convoy is passing they put dagger inside the broom and rush to scratch vehicles. When they scratch vehicles they break the windscreen.

“What is happening in Akwa Ibom State, to me is an organised attack on the citizens of the state in order to create fear and insecurity in the citizens. This is part of the plan. “They are also trying to see whether they can provoke ethnic rivalry so that it will look as if the various ethnic groups are fighting and call for state of emergency like what is happening in Jos, Plateau State.

 
“It is the foolishness of the planners because anybody who wants to contest election to rule the people should not kill the people. Anybody that wants to contest election should know that the primary purpose of government is to protect the lives and property of the people and also ensure peace.”

The governor added: “This is no longer politics. You cannot just go and destroy over 800 brand new cars and burn down over 500 brand new Keke NAPEP and burn down all sort of edifices in the place. They went as far as cutting the private parts-genitals-of PDP members and they are in the general hospitals.

“Four men from the PDP lost their private parts yesterday while others are killed outrightly. We will bring them to book no matter who they are. This is no longer politics, it is outright criminality.

“We have given order of shoot-on-sight of anybody that wants to cause destruction and more criminality in this state,” Akpabio said and later departed for campaigns in Etinan and Nsit Ubium local government areas.