An aide to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has died after being shot dead by cultists.
Ekpenyong Akom
A former Chapter Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ekpenyong Akom is dead.
Before his death, Akom was an aide to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State. He was shot dead by gunmen in a suspected cult attack in front of his house on Saturday night.
The incident Vanguard learned occurred at about 8 pm on Saturday night at a joint close to the deceased house along Akai Efa in Calabar Municipality LGA of Cross River State.
Speaking further he revealed that Akom had denounced membership of cult group a long time ago but he wonders why he could be targetted in the recent cult war in Calabar.
The source also said that he was a former Chapter Chairman of PDP in Odukpani LGA and currently an aide to Governor Ben Ayade with a wife who is heavily pregnant and four other children.
When contacted on Sunday, the Cross River Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo confirmed the killing of the ex_PDP Chapter Chairman to Vanguard on telephone adding that he was shot by gunmen.
“I am aware of the tragic incident but cannot substantiate because we are investigating the matter, but he was killed by gunmen suspected to be cultists.
“I will make available more information about the matter later today when I have been properly briefed, it is a sad development, she said.
On his part, the State Security Adviser to Governor Ayade, South, Mr Ani Esin lamented the rival clash adding that that the incident was unfortunate.
“The victim was a former chapter chairman of PDP in Odukpani, in Odukpani local government area of the State,” Esin said.