Police confirms four persons dead in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom Police Command on Monday confirmed four persons dead and several others injured following a violent protest by youths in Eyo-Esin village, Ebughu community in Mbo local governamnt area, Akwa Ibom over unpaid salaries.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mbo that the situation was under control by the police.

A NAN correspondent who visited the area reports that some youths had misunderstandings with Pisco Company, an oil tank farm in the area, after demanding the payment of their salaries from the company on Saturday.

Nwawe described the incident as unfortunate but said normalcy had returned to the affected area following the deployment of security operatives to the place.

“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has deployed more security personnel to Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom to address security challenges in the area,” she said.

She appealed to the people to always embrace peace and dialogue, while urging the youths to operate within the ambit of the law.

The spokesperson promised that the police in the state would continue to ensure quick response to security issues in order to forestall breach of peace in the area.

She said that Police had commenced investigation into the matter.

A youth in the area, Mr Asuquo Okon, told NAN that the problem started when the youths demanded for the payment of their salaries from the company on July 8.

Okon said that the situation then turned violence when the company and the protesting youths failed to reach an agreement.

“The incident started when the workers demanded for their salaries and they seize the speed boat from the company.

“The youths said they won’t release the speed boat until the company paid them their salaries and violence started,’’ he explained.