The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the assassins of two elderly brothers in Nnung Iyoho, Afaha Offiong, and Nsit Ibom Local Government Areas of the state.
The brothers, Enefiok Etuk, 70, and Ebongeti Etuk, 50, were slain in their home last Thursday at around 11 p.m. by unidentified gunmen.
Mr Ime Etuk, the deceased’s eldest brother, who fled into the bush, told journalists that his brothers’ assailants broke into the family home and murdered the two brothers, as well as stabbing the 50-year-old deceased’s wife, who is breastfeeding a newborn.
“From my room, I overheard my fourth brother, the one that was physically challenged calling for help, shouting that they were about to kill him. This was about some minutes to 11m, and the whole chaos ended at five minutes later.
“His door was forced open. I heard the wife lamenting; ‘you have stabbed the baby’. Ebongeti, my fourth brother, was taken out of the room, and he was killed at the backyard close to the kitchen,” he said.
He also noted that his head was smashed, adding that his second brother was taken out of the house through the window and killed also.
“In the middle of that chaos and cry for help, I escaped into the bush, and I spent the night inside the bush till dawn. So, around 6am, I came out from the bush, went to my second brother’s room and called him, but he didn’t answer, as I turned to his window side, I saw his wrapper by the window and as I moved further, I saw his corpse in a pool of blood.
“I went to the family head of Nung Etukakpan, and reported the incident. That is how people started coming here to witness the scene of the incident. I also complained to my enlarged family head, Obong Nnah Ikpe,” he said.
But speaking while responding to inquiries on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer , Odiko Macdon said investigations were still ongoing.
He said the command had yet to make any arrest but it has put in place a manhunt to track down the killers of the two brothers.
“No arrest has so far been made, but the Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, has ordered discreet investigation. We are closing ranks and will soon catch up with the culprits,” he stated.