Militants behead JTF informant in Akwa Ibom

A Joint Task Force, JTF informant was reportedly beheaded by suspected militants Sunday night, when the JTF raided the militants’ hideouts in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

It was gathered that there was an exchange of gunfire when JTF stormed the community to arrest a wanted militants’ leader known as Aboy Ikpor and his gang members, who led the Ikot Ekpene Prisons break that led to the escape of about 40 inmates.

A resident, Akpan Udotim, told newsmen, yesterday, that the militants ambushed the informant, who was reportedly dressed in a military camouflage, captured and beheaded him.

He said: “They ambushed the man dressed in military camouflage. They chopped off his head and later dumped his headless body at Urua Obo Inyang Market.”

The Assistant Director, Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Shuaib Umar, could not be reached, as he did not pick calls to his phone.

At press time, he had not responded to a text message sent to his phone.

However, Commander of the JTF team in charge of Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Oruk Anam, Ika and Ikot Abasi, Major Mohammed Hussain, who led the operation, confirmed the incident, but denied that the dead person was a soldier.

He said: “The dead person was just our informant and we gave him military camouflage to wear.

“They were three and we gave them military uniforms to wear so they can lead us to the militants’ camp to capture some of the suspects that escaped from Ikot Ekpene Prisons.

“But when he heard gunshots, out of fear he attempted to escape and I think bullets hit him.”-Vanguard