Three feared dead at PDP rally in A'Ibom
Three feared dead at PDP rally in A'Ibom
At least three persons were feared dead during the Peoples Democratic Party rally in the Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Saturday.
It was learnt that trouble started after a youth snatched the money which was the share of one of his colleagues at the rally. The money was said to have been given to the youths as payment for attending the rally.
A politician who said some of the youths were from his ward and who refused to be named, told our correspondent in Uyo on Monday that the other youths who felt cheated by the development chased the man who was running away with the money.
He stated that when the youths apprehended him, one of the youths hit him on the head with an iron rod and he died.
A youth, Udo Ekong, who also claimed to be an eyewitness, said friends of the young man who was hit with a rod, clashed with the assailants.
He added that the incident left three persons dead with many others seriously wounded.
"A youth snatched the money that was brought by one of the politicians for all of the youths in attendance to share. Some of us came from a far distance; we did not have money of our own to go home.
"Nobody could really tell what motivated him to hijack the money that was meant for someone else. And I am sure at the end of the day; none of us got more than N2,000.
"Most of us don't have jobs. Before we leave our houses, we usually budget what we are going to do with whatever money we are able to get from political rallies."
All attempts to speak with the PDP spokesman and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umana, proved abortive as he did not pick calls to his telephone nor responded to text messages sent to his phone.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed that one person was murdered.
In a text message sent to our correspondent, the police spokesperson confirmed one death.
The text read, "Be informed that on June 31, 2015, around 7.10pm, after the close of the governorship campaign rally held in Etinan, some youths who were given money to share among themselves had a disagreement with the sharing formula and a scuffle ensued between the- suspect, Emmanuel Sunday Okon of Ekom Iman and the deceased, Emem Friday Ikpe of Afaha Effiat village.
"The suspect hit the deceased with an iron rod on the head, but died in the wee hours of Sunday. The suspect was promptly arrested and investigations are ongoing."
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