Akpabio: A'Ibom Violence orchestrated by ACN Supporters

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, Thursday said the recent violence in the state which consumed several lives and properties worth billions of naira, was an attack orchestrated by the Action Congress of Nigeria supporters after having their campaign rally.

Addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja , Akpabio said the attackers, who he said allegedly acted on the instructions and directives of a gubernatorial candidate in the state, severed genitals of people they felt were members of the PDP while every house with PDP posters was either vandalized or torched.

He said were it not for the timely intervention of security agencies, the mayhem could have been worse as the coordinated attack only targeted his posters and supporters.

He denied that his refusal to allow opposition to campaign led to the clash.

Akpabio said he was about 70 kilometres away from the point of the attack as he had gone for a campaign rally but only knew of the incident when some of his supporters who were returning to Uyo were stopped and dehumanised.

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He alleged that the ACN supporters hid their daggers in their brooms and whoever they wanted to attack they simply brushed the broom on them and lacerated such persons.

Windscreens of vehicles with PDP stickers were shattered and destroyed, he said.

“A few days ago, hoodlums led by ACN governorship candidate in the state attacked us. It was not a clash between PDP and ACN. The train of PDP was led by me to Nkpatenin and Abak which are two local government areas.

"We were about 70 kilometres from Uyo where ACN went and held their rallies and we have videos to show that they were from rallies and on their way back, started shooting and destroying things and in the process brought down some people.

 
“Many people were wounded and many lost their private parts. They attacked any house or store with the governor's poster. It is not a clash between PDP and ACN. No, It was just raw destruction of lives and property,” he said.

Akpabio stated that the fact that ACN had concluded their rallies at Ikot Ekpene and went to Uyo to destroy things showed that the two parties did not clash during rallies.

He said 200 brand new vehicles he ordered for the people of the state, 500 Keke NAPEP and 50 buses, among others, were burnt by the attackers.

Particularly worrisome, he said, was that some of those arrested after the attack were not from the state and wondered how a Niger Republic national was recruited to come and destroy things in Akwa Ibom State.