The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed the killing of one person by a suspected scavenger at Marina Junction in Eket Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket, Tuesday.
The state government had, on January 4, banned scrap scavengers, usually seen roaming the streets with rusty carts from operating in the state.
Macdon said that the boy was murdered by the scrap metal scavenger in Eket after a mild disagreement between them.
He said that the incident happened on Sunday at Marina junction in Eket.
“Police is aware of the incident. The matter was reported to us; it was an unfortunate incident because people should be at liberty to carry out their businesses and interact with whoever they want in a legitimate manner.
“It was the refusal of the young man to sell to the person that resulted in his being stabbed and he died before reaching the hospital,” Macdon said.
He condemned the killing of the victim, saying that the culprit had been arrested and was in detention in Eket, adding that he would be prosecuted.
The police spokesman urged youths to exercise restraint in dealing with fellow human beings, saying there that was no basis whatsoever for the suspect to stab the victim.
He called on the youth to continue to maintain law and order, and not to take laws into their own hands.
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