Worried by the ‘disappearance’ of their son for eight days now, the family of Ubokobong Ime Udoworen has urged relevant security agencies in the state to produce him within 24 hours, alive or dead.
The call is fuelled by Ubokobong’s rumoured death saga following his alleged assault, maiming and ‘abduction’ by some angry APC youths within the vicinity of Ati Annang Foundation Hall, Library Avenue, Ikot Ekpene on Friday, January 19, 2024.
Udoworen from Nto Okon in Ukanafun Local Government Area is APC Youth Leader in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and a Senior Legislative Assistant to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Straightnews gathered that Udoworen was allegedly assaulted, maimed and later ‘abducted’ by some irate youths to an unknown destination during APC rally to receive Young Progressives Party (YPP) defectors into the party.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday, January 26, 2024, Mr. Akanimo Udom, a relation of Udoworen, said ‘‘I address you today on behalf of parents, other relatives, friends and kindred of Ubokobong Ime Udoworen, who was attacked by mob youths in a broad daylight on January 19, 2024 in Ikot Ekpene and whose state of being and whereabouts is not known as we address you this morning.
‘‘Ubokobong Ime Udoworen is the Youth Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom North-west (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District.’’
Akanimo who is a licensed surveyor said ‘‘He was attacked by hoodlums believed to be sponsored by some of the party leaders he accused of diverting Christmas/New Year gifts meant for the youth wing of the party in the senatorial district.
According to him, ‘‘From information available to us, the attack was targeted at stopping him from publicly reporting the matter to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the APC gathering in Ikot Ekpene. Alas! By successfully carrying the devilish act, the misguided youths had succeeded in stopping the Senate President from having a feedback on how goodies meant for the people of the senatorial district were distributed.
‘‘Ubokobong Ime Udoworen is a hater of injustice and corruption. He dislikes unfairness and inequity with passion. He had protested through his Facebook page that “the items and money meant for the youth directorate of Ikot Ekpene senatorial district were diverted to the cartel men who also called themselves the political leaders of their various local government areas.”
He specifically mentioned ‘‘Mr Emmanuel Amama, the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Youths Matters and that he made the diversion of the ‘gift items and money’ meant for the youth directorate to his cartel men who have been the problem of APC in Akwa Ibom State.”
Amama hails from Obot Akara Local Government Area of the state.
Udom noted ‘‘It was not a coincidence of any kind that the said Emmanuel Amama and other leaders of the APC were at the very spot that Ubokobong was attacked.
‘‘It is worrisome that a youth leader of a political party that controls the federal government of Nigeria was attacked in public, yet the leadership of the party from national to ward level has never bothered to make a comment.
‘‘It is bothersome that at a gathering attended by party stalwarts, including the Senate President and other top political office holders at the national level, was where one of their fellow party faithful and a staunch loyalist of Senator Godswill Akpabio attacked like a criminal for daring to make open those infract acting the party’s good deeds. It is even more worrying that seven days after the sad incident, as I am speaking with you now, our beloved Ubokobong Ime Udoworen has not been found.’’
The surveyor said he was not attacking the office nor disparaging the person of Senator Akpabio, but that he was out to seek justice for his beloved relation who has not been found or heard from for days since the incident.
He urged the press ‘‘to use your respective medium to tell the world that Ubokobong Ime Udoworen belongs to a family and a community of humans. Since the three levels of government in Nigeria have failed in their primary function of providing security to a Nigerian compatriot, we cannot and we will never disown our beloved Ubokobong Ime Udoworen, whether alive or dead.’’
‘‘On this note, we want President Bola Tinubu to take the lead. Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and ….. , the chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area also have a constitutional duty to queue behind the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in releasing Ubokobong Ime Udoworen to us.’’
He confirmed to the press reporting the matter to the Divisional Police Office, Ikot Ekpene, but the matter was later referred to Criminal Investigation Department (CID), State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia for thorough investigation.
Udom, therefore, demanded ‘‘We demand that the organizer of the event and all the security organisations, including the Nigerian Police Force, should produce Ubokobong Ime Udoworen within 24 hours.’’
Da Zion Umoh’s angle
Da Zion Umoh writing on his Facebook wall said ‘‘It has just been brought to my attention that Mr Ubokobong Udoworen also known as Ubokobong Ime from Ukanafun LGA passed away this morning (January 23rd 2024) in the hands of the APC Thugs that Maimed, Brutalised and Kidnapped him from Ati Annang Hall, Ikot Ekpene LGA on the 19th January 2023.
‘‘I am informed that Ubokobong Udoworen passed away this morning from Internal Bleeding / Multiple Injuries that were meted on him by the APC Thugs that were led by The Special Advisers Of The Senate President Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio.
‘‘The Only Crime of Late Ubokobong Udoworen was demanding for the Christmas Items and Money that NDDC released for the Entire Youths Of Akwa Ibom State and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial which he had all the rights to demand for Accountability as The APC Youth Leader of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
‘‘The attack took place at an event where the Senate President was Hosting All the APC Stakeholders, Elders and Members of APC in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (10 LGAs).
‘‘I want to believe that the Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio will swing into action by Making sure that his Advisers that are involved are arrested and handed over Nigeria Police Force to avoid riot that may lead to killing of innocent people in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and Akwa Ibom State.
‘‘I hope that the Thugs will be kind and reasonable enough to release his Corpse to the Family for closure.
‘‘May the soul of the Departed Rest In Peace as we seek Justice for his Family, Relatives and Friends.’’
The feud
The sad incident might have been triggered by feud by his antagonists against Ubokobong. On his Facebook page, he wrote ‘‘Who told you that the duties of the Senior Special Assistant to the Senate president is to form group and sideline the youth directorate of ikot Ekpene senatorial district were GOA got his vote from?????
‘‘Let me remind you that you are not a youth leader, you are a special assistant, assisting the Senate president to disseminate information as directed by the Senate president and not to come and destroy the youth structure that has been in existence.
‘‘The Senate president gave you money and rice for the youth but you choose to take those items to your colleagues the cartel men, former this and that who are not in the youth directorate of APC in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district,
‘‘NOTE – you have not given anything to the youth directorate of ikot Ekpene senatorial district since you resume your office as a special assistant to the Senate President.
‘‘We the youth directorate of ikot Ekpene senatorial district are demanding for those items and you must provide them.’’
Ubokobong’s father speaks
In a viral video seen by Straightnews, Mr. Ime Udo Udoworen, a retired police chief said ‘‘I do not want to discuss anything with journalists. The only thing I am after is to see my son, Ubokobong Ime Udoworen. I am now appealing, and of course, I want to appeal to the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command; the Inspector-General of Police and the Distinguished Senator, His Excellency, Dr. Godswill Akpabio to help me in bringing back my son, Ubokobong Ime Udoworen.’’
Udoworen who also is a former Ukanafun Local Government Chairman urged ‘‘I also appeal to the Senate President, my younger brother to bring to bear some of his aides who are involved in this dastardly act. I want to see him. It would have been so traumatic for me and my wife because I am a man of God. My wife has felt it so much. I want everybody to come to aid in bringing out Ubokobong.’’
Nyah reacts
However, Ubokutom Nyah, who served as the Director-General of Godswill Akpabio Campaign Organisation reacted thus ‘‘It’s absolutely wrong, cruel and most condemnable for anyone to link our leader, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio to any act of violence and assault generally and least to what happened to Ubokobong who I learnt he appointed as his aide lovingly.
Nyah, who is also the Secretary, FCT, Abuja added ‘‘I condemn any and all reference to any act of violence which is negative in his worldview.’’
APC’s spokesperson confirms
The state APC Publicity Secretary, Barr. Otobong Udoh, speaking with Straightnews on telephone on Friday, January 26, confirmed that Ubokobong Ime Udoworen was beaten.
‘‘Yes, it is true that Ubokobong Udoworen was beaten mercilessly by some youths. I saw how he beaten. I do not know the reason why he was beaten. I cannot tell his whereabouts.’’
On if APC has reported the matter to the police, Udoh stated ‘‘I do not know if the matter has been reported to the police. It is not in line of duty to do so. It could be the matter has been reported.’’
When Straightnews publisher called the state Police/Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon on Thursday, January 25, to confirm the matter, he did not pick his call neither did he respond to text message sent to him.
