Gunmen kill police orderly as LG boss escapes death

A police corporal attached to Paul Ekpo, Transition Committee Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has been killed by gunmen, who opened fire on their vehicle.It was learnt that the bullets also hit Ekpo and his driver, but his orderly died at the spot as he received more bullet wounds from the gunmen.The assailants were said to have left without taking a kobo from the money the chairman went to a bank to withdraw.Cletus, a younger brother to the Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the state  said Ekpo was going back to Etinan from Uyo where he had gone to withdraw some cash from a bank on Monday.The assailants were said to have trailed him to Mbiokporo Bridge in Enen Nsit, Etinan and riddled the vehicle with bullets at close range. The driver was said to have become unconscious.It was gathered from a private hospital where the chairman was receiving treatment that he told a police officer that the attack happened after he left a bank where he had gone to do some transactions.“I came out of a bank where I went to do a transaction. I then drove on to Aka-Etinan Road enroute Etinan and then I noticed that a car was following me but I did not bother.“As I got close to the Mbiokporo Bridge, the car drove closer and the next thing I heard was several shots fired and then they asked ”˜where is the money, where is the money,” he reportedly narrated.The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe,  confirmed the incident.She, however, stated that both the chairman and the driver were responding to treatment in a hospital.She said, “The police corporal attached to Etinan Local Government Transition chairman died while trying to prevent attack on his principal from armed robbers. The chairman and the driver are responding to treatment in a hospital.”Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Government has issued a statement forbidding members of the public from gathering around bank premises.The statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said government had directed the police to commence general stop-and-search exercise with immediate effect.“Consequently, loitering around financial institutions, particularly ATM booths will not be tolerated and all those who have no business around ATMs in all parts of the state should steer clear.“All citizens and residents irrespective of their status in the society are enjoined to cooperate with the Police during the exercise and report all suspicious movements to the security agencies promptly.“Government hereby assures law-abiding citizens of their safety and security at all times,” he said.