Police Confirm Militants’ Attack in Akwa Ibom

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom on Monday confirmed the attack by militants at T-junction in Itu Local Government Area which occurred on Saturday.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, confirmed the attack but denied the reported casualty figure.
Nwawe said that the command had already mapped out strategies to curtail such attacks by militants in future.
She said the command had also reached out to commands in other states to block their waterways against militants’ infiltration into Akwa Ibom.
“While there was militants attack at the T-Junction Market in Itu, I do not agree with the number of casualty.
“As soon as the incident happened, the police were quickly mobilised and repelled the attacks.
“This is a warning to all Nigerians; if you hear any attacks by armed robbers, do not run, lie flat on the ground to avoid stray bullets,” she said.
However, a resident of the area, one Moses Phillips, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gunmen suspected to be militants killed two middle aged women and injured many others at the market during the attack.
He said that the militants, dressed in military camouflage, emerged from the river on two speed boats loaded with machine guns and other ammunition and struck during market hours at 8 a.m.