When www.calitown.com reported on January 15, 2015 in her story, “Communal Conflict Threatens Eburutu Villages In Odukpani”, that the “…impending conflict may involve the Ekim and Enen villages of Ito South clan, Eburutu, and the other Ito villages, all in Odukpani LGA”, over a piece of land, that conflict has taken a turn for the worst with the shooting to death, late Wednesday evening of a soldier of the Nigerian Army, from the area.
Warrant Officer Ekanem Ekpenyong, who had just been transferred from the 14th Infantry Brigade, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State to 6th Battalion, Nigerian Army Ibawa, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, was shot dead by his brother, Okon Ekpenyong, both of Ono-Ito village, Eburutu, Odukpani LGA, after the deceased tried to make his brother see reason why small arms should not be piled, preparatory to a planned attack on a sister village.
On the line from Ono-Ito village, the deceased’s best friend, Emmanuel Awakang a.k.a Abro, informed www.calitown.com that, “I can confirm to you that my friend, Warrant Officer Ekanem Ekpenyong is lying stone dead, shot by his brother Okon…it is a very sad situation here and I am still in shock that a brother can pull out a gun and kill his brother at point-blank range over nothing”.
Asuquo Okon Awatim, another indigene of the area confirmed too that, “Ekanem who has just one more year to retire from the Army, has been killed by Okon, his brother. As we speak, Ekanem’s corpse is lying at the place where he was shot. In fact, I was standing there when Okon fired the shots and killed him. I ran for my life because I did not want to be shot too”. Most residents of the little community of less than three thousand inhabitants, have fled the area for fear that the Army may carry out a reprisal attack, which will prove deadly.
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in-charge of Odukpani, DSP Salami, confirmed the incident and subsequent arrest of Okon, who is presently in the custody of the police.
