A soldier attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Etim Ekpo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State was reported to have been decapitated on Sunday, February 18th by a militant group.
The fierce gun battle which ensued between the taskforce and militant group recorded another set of casualties due to the death of three civilians who were caught in the crossfire.
The JTF stormed the community to arrest a militant leader popularly known as ”Aboy Ikpor” and members of his gang for facilitating a prison riot and escape at the Ikot Ekpene Prison a month ago resulting in the escape of over 40 convicts.
A resident of the community who preferred his identity confidential disclosed that the militants beheaded the soldier killing him on the spot.
“The suspected militants ambushed the soldier and killed him. They chopped off his head and dumped his body at Urua Obo Inyang market, Akpan Udotim”.
Three civilians, including a woman, were said to have their lives in Udianga Enem, Ikot Obioma and Uruk Ata 11 in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
The Commander of JTF team in-charge of Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Oruk Anam, Ika and Ikot Abasi local governments, Major Mohammed Husseini, affirmed the events though he was quick to dispel the rumor that the man beheaded was an Army officer.
The deceased was just our informant. We gave him military camouflage so that he could lead us to the camp. The informants were three. We gave them military camouflage to lead us to the camp to arrest some of the suspects, who escaped from Ikot Ekpene Prison. When the deceased heard gunshots, he attempted to escape because he was afraid. He was hit by stray bullets.”