Operatives of Uyo Area Command ‘A’ Division, Barracks Road in Akwa Ibom State are grilling a man who allegedly stabbed his ex-roommate to death over argument on the ownership of cooking pot.
One Samuel Cosmos Akpan from Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State allegedly killed his former roommate, one Ubong Pellen Solomon, from Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred Saturday morning at 18, Idak Okpo Lane, Uyo, the state capital, after the deceased, who buried his late mother at the Mbiokporo cemetery, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, was just trying to get over the issue.
The late Ubong, said to be an apprentice understudying electrical trade with one Kennedy in Uyo, was said to have had an argument with the suspect, his former roommate, who came to pick some of his remaining items from the house.
“Yes, the late Solomon had gone to his former house to retrieve his remaining items from his friend and former roommate at 18, Idak Okpo Lane, but argument ensued as the suspect refused to release one pot to him, saying he wanted to use the pot for cooking meanwhile.
“But, the victim insisted that he must go with the pot, and suddenly, the suspect emerged with kitchen knife and stabbed him by the lower region of the stomach. We rushed him to the University of Uyo clinic, where he died,” a source in the compound explained.
He added that the suspected was on the verge of fleeing after the incident when the local community youths apprehended him and handed over the Police at the Area Command, Uyo.
In the same vein, Kennedy, who tutored the deceased in the art of electrical wiring and installations, wondered why such a quiet and easy going fellow should die suddenly after burying the mother on Friday.
“He (the deceased) was learning trade under me. I attended his mother’s funeral on Friday. I learnt of the shock incident the following morning on Saturday. He was rushed to the UNIUYO clinic where he was confirmed dead.
“I just left the Police station where I entered the case at the ‘A’ Division along Barracks road and the case, from what they told me would be transferred to the state Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investigation and prosecution”, he explained.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Odiko MacDon, said “the suspect has confessed of the crime and will have his day in court at the completion of investigation.”
Before, Dan Etokidem, a Facebook writer wrote Ubong, what manner of death?
”How can you bury your Mum yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) you’re stabbed to death by your roommate? Less than 24hrs after you struggled to bury your Mum?
”Ubong is a simple, easy going, hardworking, humble and God fearing young man. I knew him through my Electrician, Kennedy. If I needed someone to help clean the compound, Ubong will do that efficiently and will be done with it in less than an hour.
”This morning, I was inside the town campus of the University of Uyo, Uniuyo, when a friend who was with me pointed to a young lady crying desperately and walking towards the University gate. What could make a young lady cry this way inside the University environment on a Saturday morning? We both pondered.”Less than 10 minutes, my phone rang? It was my electrician friend, Kennedy. “Hello Sir. Sir Ubong is dead oh! Ubong is dead oh just like that”, the call ended.
”Confused and a bit disoriented, I called back. “Kennedy which Ubong? Is it your boy who just buried his Mum yesterday”, I asked. Yes, he replied. How? What happened? Was he sick? I asked. No Sir, he replied.
”He just had a minor argument with his roommate he lived together at Idak Okpo Street and within seconds, the roommate took a knife and stabbed him from the back. He lost a lot of blood and we rushed him to the University Clinic where he died”. His body is at University of Uyo Clinic, town campus.”
