By Our Reporter
Investigation into the gruesome killing of Akaniyene Udo Frank in Ikot Ubok Udom, Nsit Atai continues to stall as the State House Member, Honourable Aniefiok Attah, has failed in his pledge to handover the primary suspect to the Police for almost a month.
The suspect, Mr. Oku Udo Okon Udoidiok, allegedly inflicted deep cuts to the hand, stomach, and neck of his victim with a sharp machete, which led to the victim’s death.
Udoidiok is said to be well connected to powerful individuals in the village and holds sensitive positions including the Chief Security Officer to the village head, youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as chairman of, the electricity committee.
It was gathered that the House Member called the victim’s brother, Engr. Frank Udo on August 1, soliciting permission to allow him to bail his uncle, Chief Bassey Albert Attah – the village head of Ikot Ubok Udom and others from the Police with a promise to produce the suspect within three days. But, he has failed to do so.
A petition written by a legal firm, Libertas Solicitors, and signed by its Managing Solicitor, Clifford Thomas, and addressed to the State Commissioner for Police states that “around 1/8/2024, the House Member called our client to solicit for the release of his uncle (the village head), he had promised that once he is released, that he will produce the main suspect, and get him handed over to the Police, in three days”.
Meanwhile, there is mounting pressure on the victim’s family to accept money to withdraw the case from the Police and bury the victim.
The deceased’s brother, Engr. Frank Udo, informed this newspaper that Ikot Ubom village where his late brother Akaniyene Frank was gruesomely killed has sent a peace delegation to their village Iwok Attai, to appeal that they agree to bury their son and the case.
It could be recalled that Udoidiok allegedly hacked his victim with a sharp machete at a farm while arguing over payment for harvesting palm fruit.
According to the victim’s brother, “The thing happened on the 18th of July, 2024. The ‘killer’ invited my brother to come and cut his palm fruit for him. So, they’d agreed on the price and immediately got to the farm my brother climbed the palm tree. However, the killer said he was not going to pay the agreed price again.
“My brother declined the new offer, but while he was about loosening his ropes to climb down the assailant struck his tummy with a machete.
“My brother, who was still hanging on the palm tree attempted to block but was cut on the hand. And then, the attacker struck his neck. Someone who witnessed the vicious attack raised alarm and that was how the assailant left him because his intention was to finish him.”
Sadly, after the attack, his late brother dashed to the village head’s residence, seeking help, and fortunately found the village head, Chief Bassey Albert Attah, holding a village council meeting.
“With those bloody cuts, my brother managed to run to the village council meeting while it was in session and the entire villagers saw him.
“The ‘killer’ also came there with the bloodied machete but nobody apprehended him and handed over to the Police. My brother was bleeding and nobody gave him first aid or made any attempt to rescue him”.
Findingsreveal report at the DivisionalPoliceheadquartersinn Odot-Nsittt Atai, the matter was taken to the State Police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia for speedy action after which the village head and five others were invited for questioning.
Expressing his frustration with the handling of the case, Engr. Udo lamented “I’ve tried, I’ve informed the Police in Ikot Akpan Abia (State Police headquarters), I’ve petitioned the State Commissioner for Police, but the matter is very slow.”
This newspaper confirmed the story with the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John. She promised to speak with the victim’s brother for details of the case and assured him of the speedy Police investigation.
