A’Ibom lawmaker escapes death as bullet hits cousin

By Etim Ekpimah

A member representing Uruan Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Aniekan Bassey, escaped being killed after a team of policemen invaded his house at Ekim Enen, in the Uruan Local Government Area.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the policemen, who were in two patrol vans, allegedly stormed the lawmaker’s family house, claiming to be searching for an undisclosed exhibit on Sunday.

An eyewitness, Iquo Edet, told our correspondent that the lawmaker’s cousin, Mr. Akan Bassey, who rushed out of the bathroom to check what was happening, was shot as soon as he disclosed his name to them.

According to Edet, the policeman who shot Akan, might have mistaken him (Akan) for Aniekan, adding that the bullet pierced through his breastplate.

“I think the policemen came for a mission. What exhibit were they looking for? Who has something here to hide?

“If they had succeeded in killing him, they would either say it was an accidental discharge or look for something incriminating to present before the public who will judge him as criminal since the dead cannot talk,” she said.

Aniekan, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Monday, said he was still in shock over the incident. He described the act as shocking and barbaric.

He said, “I quickly rushed to the crime scene which took place around 2pm on Sunday and helped rush the victim to a hospital.”

Aniekan, who did not reveal the name of the hospital, where the victim was taken, said the doctor gave prompt attention to him. He noted that his cousin was lucky that the bullet did not go through his heart.

Aniekan said he would do everything within his power to ensure that the policemen, who were involved in the act, paid for it.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, Cordelia Nwawe, said the policeman did not aim the gun at anybody, adding that the incident was an accidental discharge.

She said, “Investigation is ongoing at the moment. The injured victim is undergoing treatment; he is responding to treatment. Hopefully, he will be home tomorrow.

“But the accident did not occur out of malice. Parties concerned have never had any problem. It was an accidental discharge.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Murtala Mani, had ordered a diligent investigation into the matter.

Culled from Punch