Outrage trails alleged killing of couple by A’Ibom senator’s convoy

Angry youths of Akon-Itam community in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have persisted in their protests over the killing of a couple along the Calabar-Itu Highway by a convoy of the Senator representing Eket Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom South), Mrs. Akon Iyakenyi, going to Uyo, the state capital from her campaign tour.

Senator Iyakenyi is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy Governorship candidate and running mate to Pastor Umo Eno, the party’s flag-bearer in the upcoming polls in 2023.

One of the distraught youths, Comrade Utibe Inyang, explained that the convoy rammed into the couple on a motorcycle, while trying to navigate the ever-busy highway connecting the neighbouring Calabar, Cross River state.

He maintained that what exacerbated the anger of the people stemmed from the poor handling of the compensation package of a paltry N2 million the Senator gave to the family to quell the case.

“The husband and wife killed by her convoy died and left behind three young children, so the pains we are still feeling now is because of the disdainful attitude demonstrated by the Deputy Governorship candidate without considering how these young orphans would be trained without their parents.”

It was gathered that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), called to manage traffic at the scene, were injured and their patrol vehicle damaged by the local residents, but the Corps Commander in the state, Mathew Olonisaye, who spoke with our Correspondent, said “only our vehicle was vandalized”, adding that the situation had been brought under control and normalcy returned.

Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi, said calm has returned following fruitful negotiation for them to embrace peace, adding that for the timely intervention, the youths were on the verge of torching some vehicles in the Senator’s convoy.

However, Senator Iyakenyi in a telephone interview with The Guardian said the couple had an accident and maintained that her vehicle was not responsible for the death of the couple.

Her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Samuel Duncan explained in a telephone interview that a Sienna car hit the couple on bike and pushed them on the Senator’s right of way.