An officer of the Nigerian Army who escaped being lynched by angry youths and a villager hit by the soldier’s bullet are recovering in the hospital as several vehicles were burnt to ashes sequel to a violent clash in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.
The clash broke out in Ette community in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area when a confrontation between the officer and suspected diesel thieves operating in the area ended in a violent attack
A source in the community told our correspondent that trouble started when the soldier threatened to arrest the suspected diesel thieves.
However, residents around the scene allegedly turned against the soldier in an effort to prevent him from apprehending the boys.
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“As he tried to escape from the mob, he fired a shot, hitting one of the villagers, a situation that angered the people,” the source hinted.
The incident sparked outrage, with irate youths barricading a section of the East-West Road, forcing motorists heading to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to take alternative routes for safety.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Timfon John, said normalcy had been restored while investigations to unravel the other hidden facts had commenced.
John said: “The command is aware of the incident.
“It involved an officer who was pursuing diesel thieves.
“When he was attacked by the community, he attempted to escape and, in the process, shot one of the villagers.”
She added that both the officer and the injured villager were receiving treatment in the hospital, assuring that further updates would be provided as investigations continue.
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