The killing of a commercial motorcyclist in Ikot Ambang has renewed concerns over insecurity on Uyo’s outskirts, with residents blaming poor policing.
Fresh concerns over Akwa Ibom insecurity have emerged following the killing of an unidentified commercial motorcyclist by suspected armed robbers in Ikot Ambang, a community in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, on the outskirts of Uyo, the state capital.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of yesterday, has thrown the usually quiet agrarian community into fear, with residents lamenting what they describe as the growing vulnerability of areas surrounding Uyo to violent crime.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attack happened at about 6:00 a.m. near the Ikot Ambang Community Hall, along the busy Uyo–Ikot Ekpene Highway.
The deceased, believed to be a commercial motorcyclist popularly known as an okada rider, was reportedly going about his normal business when he was trailed by two armed men on another motorcycle.
An eyewitness, Enobong Usen, who operates a small retail outlet close to the scene, narrated that the assailants appeared to have carefully monitored the victim before striking.
According to him, the attackers took advantage of the early morning calm and the absence of security personnel in the area.
“They followed him quietly and stopped him near the town hall. When they brought out a gun, he resisted and struggled with them. Everything happened very fast. One of the men shot him, and he fell from the motorcycle,” Usen explained.
He added that after shooting the rider, the attackers searched his pockets, removed his mobile phone and other personal belongings, and immediately escaped through nearby bush paths and village routes, making it difficult for residents to pursue them.
The killing has once again highlighted the issue of Akwa Ibom insecurity, especially in communities located outside the main city centre.
Locals say while Uyo metropolis enjoys a visible police presence, surrounding local government areas remain exposed.
Confirming the incident, a community youth leader, Comrade Ofonmbuk Udo, said the identity of the deceased had not yet been established as of the time of filing this report.
He disclosed that the corpse was deposited at a private morgue within the community pending identification by family members or colleagues.
Udo expressed frustration over what he described as uneven security deployment across the state capital and its neighbouring communities.
He noted that since the start of the last Yuletide season, security operations have been heavily concentrated within Uyo city centre.
“Police checkpoints are everywhere in the city, but most of the time they only cause traffic congestion and harass motorists.
“Meanwhile, places like Ikot Ambang, Itam in Itu LGA, Itak in Ikono LGA, and other border communities around Uyo are left without patrols,” he said.
He argued that this imbalance has worsened Akwa Ibom insecurity, as criminals now target less-policed areas where they can operate freely and escape easily.
According to him, many residents now live in fear, especially early in the morning and late at night.
Residents of Ikot Ambang also complained that commercial motorcyclists and petty traders have become easy targets for criminals due to the nature of their work and the cash they often carry.
Some community members called on the state government to urgently review its security strategy to include regular patrols in rural and semi-urban areas.
Efforts to get an official response from the Akwa Ibom State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls placed to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, were not answered.
However, sources at the nearby Itam Police Station confirmed that the killing was reported and that operatives have commenced investigations.
According to the police sources, efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects, who are believed to be familiar with the terrain.
The sources added that intelligence gathering has been intensified in surrounding villages to aid in their arrest.
The killing adds to a growing list of violent incidents linked to Akwa Ibom insecurity, raising questions about the safety of residents living on the fringes of the state capital.
Analysts warn that unless security coverage is expanded beyond city centres, criminal activities may continue to spread into rural communities.
Civil society groups have also called for improved community policing, better coordination between local vigilante groups and law enforcement agencies, and the deployment of mobile patrol units to flashpoints around Uyo.
As residents mourn the slain motorcyclist, many say the incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to address Akwa Ibom insecurity in a more holistic and inclusive manner, before more lives are lost.
Ireport247news
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