Militants Attack Market In Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom police command has confirmed the attack by militants at T-junction in Itu local government area of the state, which occurred on Saturday, October 31.

Militants

Vanguard reports that ASP Cordelia Nwawe, the police public relations officer, confirmed the attack but denied the reported casualty figure.

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According to Nwawe, the command has already worked out strategies to curtail militants’ attacks in future.

“While there was militants attack at the T-Junction Market in Itu, I do not agree with the number of casualty.
“As soon as the incident happened, the police were quickly mobilised and repelled the attacks.
“This is a warning to all Nigerians; if you hear any attacks by armed robbers, do not run, lie flat on the ground to avoid stray bullets,” she said.

Speaking with journalists, a resident of the area, one Moses Phillips, said that the gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants killed two middle-aged women and injured many others during the attack.
The resident said that the militants were dressed in military camouflage and emerged from the river on two speedboats. Armed with guns and other ammunition, they attacked the market at 8 a.m.

“The militants ordered cyclists and other young men and women to carry all the things they had stolen into their boats. The items they stole were essentially food items like rice, garri, fish, crayfish and palm oil.
“They also carried fuel in drums that they will use in the creeks. It was unfortunate that the two women died.
“The militants did not shoot at the crowd; they shot only into the air, but what I believe is that the bullets that killed the women, were stray bullets,” he said.

Phillips recalled that police officers and soldiers arrived the scene after the militants had left.
Earlier this year, gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants attacked the Nigerian Customs Service Base in Oron, Akwa Ibom state, killing an officer and going away with 10 rifles.