When the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel reactivated the Joint Task Force, JTF, made up of security operatives such as the army, police, civil defense corps and the DSS, to tackle the issue of insecurity bedeviling some parts of the state, little did anyone know that it would be a tough battle, going by the frequency hoodlums and cultists have targeted the security operatives to attack and kill them.
Since the inauguration of the JTF, a large number of security operatives have been sent to their early graves by the same hoodlums they are meant to flush out, especially in Essen Udim local government area of the state.
Compiled below is the recorded number of times security operatives have been attacked and killed in the line of duty,
In their first operation, hoodlums attacked and killed a police officer on night duty at the state high court. This was followed by an attack on a police station at Nto Nsek where the police officer on night duty was hacked and his rifle snatched. Luckily, he did not die.
In the third attack, two more police officers were killed at the Ikpea Annang junction while their patrol vehicle was set ablaze.
In a fourth attack, the hoodlums attacked officers of the Nigeria Customs at Nsasak-Afghan and set their vehicle ablaze following which the Essien Udim Police Station at Nto Nsek was also set ablaze.
In quick succession, soldiers were attacked and killed at Ikot Umoessien Army Base while officers of the Nigeria Police were attacked a second time and killed at Nto Nsek and their vehicle set ablaze.
Not relenting, an Assistant Superintendent of Police was targeted, killed and burnt inside his house at Ikot Afanga, while his vehicle and motorcycle were set ablaze.
Taking a break from attacking and killing security operatives, the hoodlums attacked the house of the village head in Ikot Akpan and set it ablaze.
Shortly after, the hoodlums struck again when they lured 15 soldiers and police officers led by CSP Ajide, in charge of Quick Intervention Unit, to their hideout at Essien Udim, Uwa junction. All of them were killed and three army hilux vans set ablaze.
In their 11th attack, the hoodlums and the joint task force of security operatives engaged in a shoot out along Ikot Ekene/Aba road and randomly killed many including motorists and pregnant women.
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