ORUK ANAM
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command have confirmed last Sunday’s burning of a university student by a roadside petrol dealer in Oruk Anam local government area.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, OdikoMacdon, who confirmed the incident,on Monday, said the Commissioner of Police, OlatoyeDorusinmi, has ordered investigation into the matter, adding that the suspect would soon be arrested.
He said, “Yes, we are aware of the incident. But the suspect escaped from the scene. Police are trailing the suspect now and he will soon be brought to book.”
On Sunday, there was tension in Udo Idiong Junction in ObioOkpa campus of the Akwa Ibom State University, OrukAnam, as a roadside petrol dealer set ablaze one Enwongo Akpan, a 200-level philosophy student of the institution, over a minor disagreement.
It was gathered that trouble started when the student unknowingly bought adulterated fuel of N500 from the dealer who is now on the run.
The victim returned the adulterated fuel to the dealer after he emptied the content into his generating set’s tank but the engine did not ignite.
An eyewitness, Idongesit Akpan, told newsmen on Monday that in the ensuing argument, the dealer made for the petrol gallon and poured its content on his victim and struck a match on him before he caught fire while others scampered for safety.
Akpan further stated that the victim was rescued by the villagers and students who alerted the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Nse Essien, who ordered that the victim be rushed to Mercy Hospital in Abak, where he received treatment before being transferred to another hospital in Uyo, the state capital.
Akpan said, “The incident attracted attention of community leaders such as former Chairman of OrukAnam, Prince Ubong Idiong, who prevailed on students to forestall reprisal action.”
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