A murder suspect, allegedly involved in the killing of Chief Eyo Eyo Bassey, has reportedly escaped from police custody in Bakassi Police Divisional headquarters.
Recall that 52-year-old Chief Bassey, Village Head of Ikot Obot and a staff of Audit Department, Cross River state Ministry of Finance, was murdered by his assailants in his farm near a Primary school at Ikot –Obot late last year over an alleged land tussle between him and some people in the community.
A source, who preferred anonymity, told Vanguard that when Essien was granted bail late last year, he went back to the brother of the deceased Village head of Ikot- Obot to threaten him.
“When he was granted bail, he went back to the younger brother of Chief Eyo Eyo Bassey, who was assassinated last year to threaten his life; he vowed that he will make sure he too was also killed as his elder brother.
“The younger brother to the deceased reported the matter to the police and he was arrested, but as the police were planning to charge him to court on Monday, he escaped from their custody and as I speak, the officers on duty have been given ultimatum to arrest and provide the suspect on or before Thursday of face disciplinary actions,” he said.
Vanguard also learned that Essien Ita and six others were arrested in connection to the alleged murder, but he was granted bail before he went back to threaten the younger brother to the deceased before his re-arrest this month.
When contacted, ASP Irene Ugbo, police Public Relations Officer in the state, who confirmed the escape, stated that a crack team is on his trail and he would be apprehended soonest.
“We are on his trail and we have lead that is giving us useful information and we assure the people that he will soon be arrested and made to face the full weight of the law,” she assured.
