The gruesome murder of a former deputy speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA), Rt. Hon. Okon Uwa, has been described as “callous, “wicked” and “a very inhuman act” by the State Assembly.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Sam Ikon, used those words while strongly condemning the dastardly act on the floor of the House in Uyo on Thursday. Deliberating on the “surprising murder,” he called on the state police command and other security operatives in the state to “unravel and unmask” those behind the killing of the former lawmaker and bring them to justice accordingly, “no matter whom he or she may be in the society.”

The House stated that the late political top shot from Ukanafun was a “fine, courageous, humble, God-fearing and intelligent lawmaker” in his days “both within and outside the legislative house.”

The Akwa Ibom State Government has, through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, disclosed that it has set up a high powered investigation panel to unravel the motive behind the cold-blooded murder of Uwa with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

News Express reports that the late Hon. Okon Uwa was attacked and murdered by unknown hoodlums on Wednesday at Ward Three in Nkek village, known to be his in-laws’ community in Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.

Sources in Ukanafun said that the slain former deputy speaker, who was said to be contesting again for the Ukanafun State Constituency seat under the platform of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), was on his way back from a house-to-house campaign for votes when he met his untimely death.

Some arrests have been reportedly made by the police, among them the incumbent vice chairman of the Local Government Council, who is a prime suspect.

•Photo shows late Rt. Hon. Okon Uwa.