Military Deploys Air Strikes, Bombs Operations In Akwa Ibom Against Hoodlums

Panic took over the residents of the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday as there was a military bombardment of the Ikot Akpan forest in the area.

According to The Punch, the military operation was meant to flush out hoodlums who had been attacking police formations in the state.

Residents, who shared boundaries with the hideout of the hoodlums disclosed that the bombing of the forest started around 8a.m and ended at 12 noon on Tuesday.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Attack Another Police Station In Imo

The military exercise came shortly after 24 hours some gunmen attacked the Imo State police command headquarters and the Nigerian Correctional Service in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, where over 1,844 inmates were freed.

On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, ordered security agencies to mobilise fully and go after the gunmen that had been attacking security agencies.

It was learnt that before the military commenced the exercise in Akwa Ibom on Tuesday, the residents had been asked to stay off the Ikot Akpan forest suspected to be the camp of the gunmen.

READ ALSO: See Photos Of Burnt Imo State Police Command

Residents said the operation started with the deployment of helicopters and drones for aerial surveillance and bombing before ground troops moved in to flush out the criminal elements.

The Essien Udim LGA is the LGA where the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio, hails from. It has been under attack by gunmen, who have been killing security operations and destroying their facilities.

In February, the hoodlums, whom many suspected to be a cult group, attacked the police at the Ikpe Annang junction, setting ablaze a police inspector inside a police van.

Same month, they attacked the Ikot Afanga community and killed an inspector of police identified as Aniekan, set ablazed a divisional police station in the LGA. They also burnt police vehicles.

On March 31, 2021, three police officers, including a chief superintendent of police, Ben Ajide, were killed and four others were declared missing after a failed reprisal attack carried out by the police against the hoodlums.

On Tuesday morning, some residents who had not deserted the area stayed indoors as the military bombarded the hideout of the criminals

They were under apprehension as fighter jets flew at low levels to ensure proper surveillance of the area.

A resident of the Essien Udim LGA, Essien Sunday, confirmed the bombardment in an interview with journalists, describing the exercise as a fearful experience.

He stated, “We were woken up this morning by sounds of gunshots and military helicopters hovering around the entire village with fearful sounds. Although we heard the information, nobody knew it was going to be that fearful. So, I  instructed my wife and children to remain indoors throughout the exercise.

READ ALSO: Be Ruthless With IPOB, ESN Members – IGP Adamu Orders

“I don’t know how many people were arrested by the army but what I know is that they carried out an aerial surveillance of  communities in the LGA.”

A lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, Dan Etokidem, who is a resident in the area confirmed the bombardment.

He said, “Well, the bombardment started in the early hours of today. I learnt they (the military) sent advance notification that the civilians should vacate the said areas before moving in this morning. So, the aerial bombardment and the support troops moved in this morning around 8am or so. Most students from the polytechnic could hear the fighter jets and the gunshots. So, that is just It.

“It was an offensive to flush out criminals within three major communities in the Essien Udim LGA, the communities are Uwa, Ikot Afanga, Ikot Akpan communities all in the local government area.”

Another resident, Godwin Akpan, said although there were apprehension during the bombardment, he described it as a great relief to the communities who had experienced attacks against the police

 “Yes, there had been cases of insecurity of late with the hoodlums targeting police officers and establishments and of course the military had to come in. Advanced notice was sent to the communities to vacate the areas.”

The Defence headquarters did not respond to inquiries on the reported bombardment on the forest on Tuesday.

However, The Punch reported that a top military officer confided that the exercise was not a bombardment.

He said, “It was a joint military operation conducted by the Nigerian Army, Air force and other security agencies to flush out criminals elements in the  Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, that have been terrorising the state. The operation was successful. For now, no arrest has been made.”