By; PATRICK TITUS,, Uyo
Residents of Ukanafun Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State can now have a peace as troops of 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, on Tuesday, killed two more notorious militants alleged to be causing nightmare in the area for over two years.
The two, Aniebet Udoh and Thankgod Osiokpaphi, were said to be second in command to their kingpin, Akaninyene Jumbo, alias, Iso Akpafit, who was killed by the troops on Monday.
They were killed following the military raids on the hideouts of the remaining gang members at Ikpe Village in Etim Ekpo local government area of the state.
The Assistant Director, Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Umar Shuaib, who disclosed this said that the hoodlums engaged the troops in a shootout but the criminals could not withstand the superior fire power of the military.
“After the first operation, our gallant troops following another tip off invaded the hideout of the remaining gang members at Ikpe village in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area on Tuesday and engaged the hoodlums and killed two members namely, Aniebet Udoh and Thankgod Osiokpaphi, who were said to the the second in command to the kingpin while the remnants escaped with gunshot wounds,” he said.
According to him, the items recovered from the hoodlums include one pump action gun, two locally-made guns, 13 live cartridges, eight expended cartridges, two Dane guns and two cutlasses.
He explained the corpses of the two criminals have been deposited at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital mortuary.
Major Shuaib, recalled that the gallant troops of 2 Brigade Nigerian Army on Monday acting on tip off trailed a notorious cultist and renowned killer Akaninyene Jumbo, alias Iso Akpafit at Inyih Village, a border town between Akwa Ibom and Abia states.
He said, “Jumbo was known for terrorising the inhabitants of Ukanafun LGA in Akwa Ibom State who perpetrated the killings of two Nigerian Police personnel and a truck driver in Ukanafun on November 17, 2017 and also masterminded the killing of a commissioner’s sister and two others in Ikot Oko Osun community still in Ukunafun on November 19, 2017. The suspects have been evading arrests after the incident.”
He said that the Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abdu Ibrahim Hassan, has assured the law abiding citizens in the area that the brigade will do everything within its powers to protect their lives and property while soliciting for their support and cooperation by reporting any form of crime to appropriate security agencies.
