By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Chairman of Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Akaniyene Tommy,
has appealed to youth of the area to remain calm even in the face of provocation following the gruesome murder of a youth.
The deceased, one Edikan Edoho was allegedly attacked and killed by a suspected scraps scavenger at Marina Junction in Eket on Sunday during a disagreement between the two.
Tommy during a condolence visit to the family of the victim in Afaha Eket village, condemned the killing, describing it as unfortunate.
Tommy, who consoled the bereaved family, sued for calm while also revealing that the mastermind of the unfortunate incident has been arrested and detained.
The Council Boss explained that a combined team of Police and Military Task Force (JTF) operating in Eket apprehended the culprit who would be charged to Court soon.
Tommy, further called on all the youth of the area to avoid any act of retaliation as it would fuel the crisis further.
He promised that he would do all within his powers to ensure there is no repeat of such act.
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Tommy, however has announced a re-enforcement of the ban placed on the activities of scrap metal scavengers popularly known as “Iron condemned” in Eket.
He explained that anyone seen engaging in such activities would be duly arrested and handed over to the security agencies in the state.
He further called on people of Eket to stay calm and go about their routine activities as normalcy has been restored.
In a separate remark at the visit, the Youth Leader of the Hausa community in Eket, Alhaji Ibrahim Iliya condemned the murder of Edikan Edoho by one of his Hausa brothers
According to Iliya the Hausas were peace loving people who have lived for more than 31 years in Eket, just as he would not support any form of violence in the area by any of their subjects.
He called on the law enforcement agencies to take its full course on the arrested culprit.
Reacting to the incident, the Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, confirmed the incident, saying that the culprit was in detention.
It would be recalled that Akwa Ibom Government on January 4, 2022 banned the activities of scrap scavengers, who roam around neighbourhoods, picking discarded metals in the state
