The Councillor representing Ward 6 in Nsit Atai LGA, Otuekong Umoette Akpan, has said that he narrowly escaped attempt to physically attack him penultimate Tuesday November 11, 2008 at his residence by some unknown persons suspected to have been hired by his political opponents.
Narrating the incident to Weekly Insight in his office, Otuekong Akpan said that he had sent his PA, Unwana B. Orok, on an errand, and while he was waiting for the PA's return, he (Otuekong) instead received a phone call from the aide who alerted that six suspicious-looking young men had just ridden into the Councillor's premises on two motorcycles that bore no registration numbers, and that he, Otuekong Akpan, should run for his life.
The Councillor said that he immediately heeded the PA's caution and escaped through the back of his house, adding that from a safe distance and on looking down the road, he saw his two main political opponents close to his residence and pointing to same, and directing the said unknown men.
Following this development, the Councillor said he immediately went and reported the matter at the Aka Road Police Station from where some policemen were dispatched to arrest the men. The men were however said to have fled before the arrival of the police at the scene of the incident.
Subsequent to police investigations and transfer of the case to Zone 6, Calabar, one Bassey Effiong Okon was said to have been arrested in connection with the incident, but released on bail soon after.
The matter was said to have been charged to magistrate Court 6, Uyo for prosecution.