Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel and the state Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Umo Eno have condoled with Bassey Albert Akpan over the loss of his younger brother and two aides.

A younger brother to Senator Akpan popularly known as OBA representing the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Akparawa Robert Albert Akpan reportedly died after a brief illness leaving behind a wife and children.

Similarly, the Senator’s Chief Protocol Officer, Imo Isang and the Police Orderly, Inspector Linus Odey were gruesomely killed by unknown gunmen in Imo State on Friday.

Governor Emmanuel expressed deep condolences to the Senator on the demise of his younger brother, and his two aides.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant, Media, Ekerete Udoh, Governor Emmanuel said he was “profoundly saddened by the death of Senator Akpan’s sibling and his close aides.

“The loss of a sibling can be an emotionally wrenching experience.

“To lose two close aides under tragic circumstances, a few hours later, is even more devastating.

“On behalf of the Government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, I send you our deepest condolences and pray God to comfort and console you during this very sad period of mourning.

“Our prayers are with you and your family,” the Governor stated.

Also, the Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Eno has sent his heartfelt condolences to his opponent, Senator Akpan who is the state governorship candidate under Young Progressives Party (YPP) on the demise of his younger brother and two aides.

Both of Eno and Akpan are recognized by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to vie for the soul of Akwa Ibom during the 2023 general elections.

In a statement by his media aide, Tony Udoh, Pastor Eno said he “received the sad news of the passing of your younger brother, the late Akparawa Robert Albert Akpan after a brief illness and the tragic death of your Chief Protocol Officer, late Imoh Isang and Police Orderly, late Inspector Linus Odey. Your late brother and your departed aides were strong pillars in your life and their unfortunate passing will be difficult to fill.

‘‘On behalf of my Campaign Organization and family, I express our deepest condolences on their sad and painful passing.

‘‘I am hopeful that the law enforcement agencies will track, arrest and bring to justice those who were responsible for the death of your Chief Protocol Officer and Police Orderly. Our polity must be made free of violence, and unnecessary shedding of blood such as was witnessed in Imo State by the death of your aides.

‘‘May the good Lord, comfort, sustain and strengthen you during this very sad moment of your bereavement,” he added.

Tribute to the fallen

In a tribute to the fallen, Joseph Iniodu, Public Affairs penned ‘‘Yesterday, October 7, began another day of mourning in Akwa Ibom State. It came on the heels of the death of Mr Imoh Isang who is said to have been gunned down alongside his police orderly, Inspector Linus Odey by people suspected to be members of IPOB and operating a heartless killer wing called unknown gunmen.’’

According to him, ‘‘Imoh Isang popularly known as DIG was hacked down yesterday while on official assignment to outside the State through Owerri. The details of the gruesome murder are gory and heart-rending. The body of the vivacious, ebullient, warm and super active Chief Protocol Officer to Senator Bassey Albert, the gubernatorial candidate of YPP is said to have been brought back to Akwa Ibom yesterday “lifeless” and deposited in the mortuary. But in a sane clime, DIG and the police orderly had no business dying. They were not traveling at odd hours. Isang may have deemed that he supposedly protected in the refuge of an armed policeman.

‘‘But rather than be a protection, the presence of an armed policeman became his albatross. Adopting the style of guerilla warfare, these barefaced criminals who couch their sub-culture activities under the pretence of agitation ambushed and opened fire on vehicles. The conducts conduce with cowardice which give vent to the type of violence they perpetrate and which is now a recurring decimal.

‘‘Imo and the police orderly were on a legitimate mission. They neither offended the law nor man nor tribe. They were not even given an opportunity to stir an altercation to justify or merit the unwholesome death. They were cut short by a bunch of unscrupulous criminals who have completely lost their humanity and turned themselves into murderous maniacs that relish taking other people’s lives.’’

He enquired ‘‘Many questions arise from the activities of IPOB and its extraction being the unknown gunmen. What are they really looking for? If they are for the sovereignty of Biafra, why are they spilling the blood of innocent people? Do they need blood to build their nation? It is a fact that if this savagery is not halted, it may affect the relationship of the Igbos with other regions. Sometime ago, a prominent politician of Northern extraction, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak was killed in Imo State.

‘‘Less than a month ago, the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Uba was attacked and about a dozen people killed. One of the victims of that dastardly act was an Akwa Ibom son who was a photographer to the Senator. Coincidentally, his remains were brought back to the State earlier yesterday while another of our illustrious son, Imoh Isang was felled same yesterday in the same Igbo land. This trend is worrisome and unlikely to promote good neigbourliness.

‘‘DIG was a jolly good fellow; jovial, affable and sociable. One cannot forget his standard response to the name DIG, “one that cannot be retired.”

‘‘This jocular mindset may have been the adrenaline behind his sense of service. Imoh Isang was not only a workaholic, he carried out any work assigned him with an extreme sense of devotion. He believed in hard work and made it his creed. And it was in the course of work that he met the untimely death that has brought a pall of gloom to the Akwa Ibom community.’’ (Courtesy StraightNewsng.com)

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