Otu Inyang, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, was killed by unidentified men suspected of being hired assassins.
According to Punch, Inyang, a native of Ikot Udoma Village in the state’s Eket Local Government Area, was shot and killed while returning home with his wife after attending a crossover service at the community’s Qua Iboe Church.
When he was very close to his home, the late politician was ambushed by his killers, who fired several bullets into his head.
Other worshippers leaving after the service did not suspect the sounds they heard were gunshots because there were several other sounds from knockout crackers thrown by excited youths to usher in the new year, according to a source.
Dr Samuel Udonsek, President of Ekid Peoples Union and former governorship candidate on the platform of the now-defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, confirmed the incident and described the deceased as a formidable politician and community leader.
“With great dissatisfaction and sadness, I received this news. This model of conflict resolution is not common in Ekid land, I must say. Elder Otu Inyang was a close friend of mine in the ANPP from 2000 to 2003, when he assisted us in building a formidable opposition party.
He stated, “Late Prof Etuk Nssien Etuk, of blessed memory, regarded him rightly as a formidable pillar of his strong and resilient political empire and structure.”
Odiko Macdon, the state Police Command’s spokesperson, confirmed the incident, saying that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, had ordered a Deputy Commissioner of Police to conduct a discreet investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.
“Such a report has been received by the command, which is unfortunate. The CP has directed that the command’s Deputy Commissioner of Police conduct a discreet investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. So, we’re on top of things, and I can assure you that the criminals won’t get away,” he said.
