Some youths are in intense manhunt for the fleeing suspect over the gruesome murder of a local businessman in Okon town, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.
The murder of one Clement Monday Isaiah by one Kokoette Sunday Philips, a local hunter, now at large, has sparked violence in the community.
According to family sources, Philips resorted to murdering his kinsman after a heated argument near their individuals’ compounds in Okon village.
“Both the suspect and the deceased were having some arguments over issues which they could not resolved amicably and the suspect had to run to his house and brought out his loaded hunting rifle with which he offloaded some lethal bullets into the deceased’s body.
“Before neighbours could come, the suspect had escaped into the nearby bush and we can’t find him because as a hunter, we believe he has some charms that could make hide in the bush for as long as he chooses”, one of the youths, Sylvester Effiong, said.
Wife of the deceased, who simply identify herself as Anietie Monday, said she was not at home when the incident happened, explaining that she was attending a funeral ceremony at the neighbouring Essene community, where she was called to return home immediately.
Fighting back tears, the mother of three said: “I was attending a funeral ceremony at the nearby Essene community when neighbours called me to return immediately.
“Behold, when I came home, I saw several people gathered at a location near our compound and my husband’s body was lying lifeless on the ground”, she stressed, calling on the Police to apprehend the fleeing suspect for justice to take its course.
She stated that with the culprit becoming illusive, the matter had since been reported at the Divisional Police station at Ikot Abasi.
However, SP Odiko Macdon, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who spoke to journalists on Tuesday, could not ascertain whether the matter had been transferred to the state Police headquarters at Ikot Akpan Abia, in Uyo, the state capital, but promised to link up with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ikot Abasi.
“I am yet to be briefed by the DPO of Ikot Abasi,” he said, promising to revert to journalists “as soon as I am able to get details.”
