A 52-year-old widow from Nnungudo Community in Ibesikpo Council of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Promise Akpan, has alleged that police killed her son, Akaniyene Akpan, who was preparing for the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in May 2019.

She stated this at the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality at the High Court complex in Uyo, the state capital yesterday.

Promise, a retiree, said her late son was shot at the market, while trying to buy footwear to use in school.

“My husband died in 2017 and on January 13, 2019 my son was preparing to go to the NDA. I tried as a mother to help, as he was to leave for school on Wednesday.

“On Monday, which was our community market day, he told me he did not have footwear and I told him that I did not have money. He then told me that his friend had called to give him some money for the journey.

“I told him to go and meet his friend, while I also meet my colleagues for assistance. So, he left and the next moment I heard a gunshot.

“As I was coming from Mbietebe Akpawat road, close to the market, when I noticed that the place was rowdy and people were running. My nephew was running behind me, but I did not know until he caught me from the back and I asked him what was going on?

“He took me to my sister’s house where I was informed that the police had killed my son,” she narrated.

Promise, who was full of tears while narrating her ordeal, said eyewitnesses confirmed that the late son, who was 26-year-old, was taken to police station at Ibesikpo and buried, adding that she had not seen him since then.

“I have not seen my son, dead or alive since May 13, 2019. They told me that after he was murdered, the police took him to the station and buried him.

“My son did not get to his friend’s place, he stopped at the market to buy a footwear where police shot him dead. I do not have anybody to speak for me,” she added.

However, the panel, headed by Justice Ifiok Ukana (rtd.) adjourned the case to Thursday, January 21, 2021 for further hearing.