Statement on the Gruesome Murder of Sir Paul Inyang

At about 11:30am on Sunday, 20th June 2010, the Government of Akwa Ibom State received with rude shock the news of the gruesome murder of Sir Paul Inyang, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in the state at the premises of his church; Ebenezar African Church, Mbierebe, Akpawat in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state by a gang of six armed men operating with three unregistered motorcycles and believed to be working for one Monday Akpautong, a native of Ibesikpo Asutan.

In view of this ugly development, the Government of Akwa Ibom State wishes to state as follows:

1. That the State Government condemns in very strong terms the murder of the party chieftain who was a strong supporter of the present administration.
2. That the State Government has directed relevant security agencies to conduct an immediate enquiry on the assassination of Sir Inyang in view of the fact that the assassination is coming a few days after the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio had alerted the presidency (based on security reports at his disposal) that some desperate politicians were planning to unleash mayhem on the state through serial assassination of prominent supporters of the current administration.
3. That the late Sir Inyang was a staunch supporter of the State Governor and was in fact the Secretary of the Wakili Adamawa-led Screening Committee for the 2006 Governorship Primaries (South-South). As Secretary of the Screening Committee, he refused all entreaties to disqualify Governor Akpabio from contesting the 2007 Governorship Election.
4. That as a member of the State Caucus of the PDP, it is on record that he joined other party stalwarts in endorsing the motion for the return of the incumbent Governor in 2011 at an enlarged caucus meeting of the party in December 2009.
5. That the State Government, however, commends the effort of the State Police Command for promptly rising to the occasion by identifying the operational base of the ring leader of the killer squad, one Monday Akpautong, who is currently at large
6. That the State Government has directed the police and other relevant security agencies in the state to ensure that they work round the clock to unravel those behind the spate of kidnappings and assassinations in the state, in order to bring them to book.
7. That the State Government deeply condoles with the family of the late Sir Paul Inyang and assures all law abiding citizens that it would spare no efforts in taking appropriate measures to ensure the safety of lives and property in the State.

Signed:
Umana Okon Umana
Secretary to the State Government