From Joe Effiong, Uyo
The Uyo branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged Akwa Ibom State government to use whatever method, including traditional means, to check indiscriminate killing of people in Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.
This advice came following the death of a lawyer and a member of Uyo branch of the NBA, Mr. Mfon Etukudoh, who was murdered last Sunday at Idung Nneke, in his native Ukanafun LGA of the state.
In a statement signed by the branch chairman, Eno-Obong Akpan, the association said the murder of Etukudoh had become part of the worrisome statistics of those who lost their lives in Ukanafun LGA in recent times.
“Ukanafun Local Government Area has recorded an unprecedented upsurge in violent crimes that has left tears and sorrow in its wake. Prominent citizens of the area have, in the recent times, met with violent death, including the late Engr. Albert Ukpanah, Hon. Okon Uwah (former Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly), Obong Ime Atakpa (former Secretary of the Council) and his political associate, Mr. Akaninyene Udo Aka, as well as a youth leader identified as Paragi, among others.
“The Nigerian Bar Association is deeply pained by this loss of her member and calls on security agencies, the government of the state and the political and traditional elite in the area to ensure that all those involved in the killing of Mfon Etukudoh, Esq, are brought to book,” he said.
The NBA equally called on the people of Ukanafun to rise up against persons or groups turning their land to a terror zone.
It said: “They must assume responsibility and stop those who, for political and other reasons, are turning their wives into widows and their children into orphans.
“As for our colleague, Mfon Etukudoh, Esq, the association will stop at nothing to ensure a thorough investigation and successful prosecution of all those connected to his death. We appeal to our members to remain calm while we await the police report on the murder of our colleague.”