Following the death of one Wisdom Sunday Akpan, a notorious criminal and murderer who terrorised the locals of the area, point-of-sale (POS) operators and other shop owners along Ikot Ambang, Itak, and Ikot Efun in Ibiono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have breathed a sigh of relief.
Wisdom would kill his victims after removing their cash and valuables in the open, until he was killed by members of the Command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.
In one of his activities, Wisdom killed a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) volunteer who was serving in the State after robbing her of her cash and phone.
After hearing about Wisdom’s passing, another victim, Jesse Johnson, wrote on her Facebook wall about how she had been shot by the deceased Wisdom at Ikot Ambang Junction while trying to withdraw cash from a POS operator and had been stolen of her money and phone.
Jesse revealed that 16 pellets were removed from her body and thanked God that she was still alive to deliver the story. She also mentioned that the occurrence frequently causes her to experience shock at the smallest noise.
She declared, “His rule, albeit brief, was characterised by horror, anguish, and suffering; July 8, 2023, a day I will never forget in my entire life.
“I left for Uyo on Friday, July 7, 2023, and returned home at precisely 10:10 p.m. I made the decision to visit the market on Saturday at 8:15 a.m., but first I stopped by the POS station to withdraw money. I greeted the man and gave him my ATM card after greeting him. I then heard the phrase “run ooooo.”
“I heard gunfire before I could flee, and as everyone went to their heels, I looked down to see myself on the ground. I was shot and ran towards by the terrible animal known as Wisdom.To cut a long tale short, I was rushing to get a police complaint and a ride to Uniuyo Teaching Hospital while blood was dripping down my arm and back.
“The lack of a bed was the next obstacle. To get me to Anua Hospital, my brother was instructed. Like, literally, I’m gasping for air, and this? How can I travel here and pass away in the hospital?
Here I am, gasping for air, thirsty, on fire, and covered in moving projectiles. All I could say was that, in the words of my pastor, “I cannot die like a chicken.”
“It needed the State Police PRO, Odiko Macdon, to step in at the right time. Regards, Sir. I have debts.
“I’m still here, having had 16 pellets removed, and there are still more inside of me. Sometimes I receive electric shocks. Any loud noise, especially the sound of a motorbike, makes me anxious. I’ve always been a survivor, so I’m confident I can get through this.
“I have received a number of calls regarding the death of this youngster today, and all I can recall is that my pastor at Dunamis International Gospel Centre Uyo, Pastor Usman Samson, prayed for me with the congregation and told them that he had only a limited amount of time left. Thank you, Jehovah!
Thank you for restoring my confidence in the Force, PPRO Odiko Macdon. I remain in my comfort zone. Still astonished. Psychological healing is still ongoing. The last of the pellets will be released, and I am confident that God will complete what is left.
Odiko Macdon, the State Police PRO, supported the woman’s statement and noted that she only managed to escape due to good fortune and grace.
He assured them that the command would keep the State safe.
In a statement to the police, Wisdom claimed to be the last member of the notorious armed robbery group that was once commanded by the late Malachi Uwem Friday. He claimed to have killed over 13 people, including Nsikan Vincent Udo of Ikot Inua village near Ikot Efun junction, whom he killed and then stole his brand-new Q-link motorbike.
His actions forced several of the supermarkets and POS operators he targeted to relocate out of concern that they would not only be robbed but also end up dead.
According to a witness to Wisdom’s murder, the man arrived at the Ikot Ambang Junction grocery to rob it as usual in the afternoon, unaware that roughly four SWAT on mufti members had set up shop in key locations throughout the structure.
The eyewitness, who went by the name Ekemini, claimed that Wisdom shot at the men when he believed there was a chance they might be police officers, but the shots were not piercing.
“The boy (Wisdom) drove his motorbike to the supermarket to rob them without knowing that the police were trailing him,” he said an OBASANJO NEWS24 correspondent who visited the scene.
“He started shooting them (police officers) as he realised what was going on, and they were laughing at him. Everyone fled because of the smoke and left him and those police officers to fight it out. Like a movie, it was.
“It seemed as though he became exhausted because none of his shots were hitting any of the cops, so he threw his pistol on the ground and tried to flee, but one of the officers grabbed his gun (Wisdom’s) from where he left it and shot him in the head; he immediately collapsed and one of his eyes flew out.
“There was joyous celebration everywhere. We are overjoyed and grateful to the police for putting an end to this fear. People were cheering for the police and prayed that the person wouldn’t come back to our location because our people have suffered even as the police took the corpse in a waggon to their headquarters.
Another local who was interviewed and who wished to remain anonymous revealed that Late Wisdom used to rob at night and would hide in a remote area before resuming his attacks on innocent bystanders.
According to him, Wisdom possessed a potent spell that might cause him to vanish or prevent a bullet from penetrating him. Because of this, he was unfazed when robbing and killing in broad daylight because he believed his charms made him invincible.
Meanwhile, it was noted that POS operators who fled the region as a result of Wisdom’s operations are now returning.
One of the returnees who claimed that Wisdom had defrauded him of 200,000 Naira claimed that his life has never been the same because the money was a loan from a microfinance institution.
“I’ve been here for more than three years, up until that guy came and started torturing everyone,” he declared. On the morning of the day he arrived, as I was setting up my table, I saw someone approaching and they said, “Hand over the money.” I don’t know what came over me, but I didn’t resist and I simply handed over the small bag I was holding, which held N200,000 in total. I found out that after robbing, he later shot one girl.
I want to express my gratitude to the Akwa Ibom State police command for getting rid of that person. The fact that the man killed at will while asserting that nothing would happen gave the impression that he was more powerful than everyone.
Afaha, Udo Udoma people have expressed concern over the recent spike in armed robberies in the community.
Callers to a radio programme in Uyo claimed that when thieves arrive at your doorstep, they will say your name, divulge all of your personal information, and demand that you leave immediately or else they will smash down your door and kill you.
They exhorted the cops to take action.
The State’s police chief, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, has issued a warning to criminal elements, telling them to change their ways or leave the State altogether so that the Akwa Ibom people can live in safety.
