Two Killed, Others Injured As Akwa Ibom Lawmaker Escape Kidnap

A member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh, has escaped being kidnapped by unknown gunmen last Thursday.

Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, the lawmaker stated that the gunmen tried to kidnap him at a traditional wedding ceremony at Uquo community in Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state.

Akpanusoh stated that he was lucky to escape after struggling with one of them, thanking God for surviving the kidnap attempt.

He, however, revealed that two people were killed while several others were injured during the attempted kidnap, adding that one of the gunmen attacked his driver.

He said: “I went for traditional marriage in Uquo in Esit Eket with the family of the deputy political leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in my ward. After staying for about 40 minutes, I bade the couple goodbye and approached my car.

“While attempting to enter my car, I saw a Nissan Sunny that blocked it and a guy came out with an AK-47 rifle and started shooting sporadically into the air and people thought that he was a policeman.

“I saw him pointing the gun at my car and started shooting at people directly and bullets hit two guys. Fortunately, the driver struggled with the guy and as God would have it, he was able to find his way back to the crowd.”

However, the state Police Command has confirmed the incident and has begun an investigation into the attempt to kidnap the state lawmaker.

According to the police spokesman, SP Odiko Macdon, the Commissioner of Police had asked the Divisional Police Officer in Esit Eket to investigate the incident.