Roadside petrol dealer sets undergraduate student ablaze in A’Ibom

Ini Billie, Uyo

A roadside petrol dealer, who is at large, set a 200-level student in the Department of Philosophy, Ewongho Akpan, of the Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa campus, ablaze.

It was learnt that Akpan bought N500 fuel from the roadside dealer. When he got home, he poured the petrol into the fuel tank of his generator and it failed to supply electricity.

As such, he went back to the roadside petrol dealer for an explanation with the belief that the fuel was adulterated.

One of the eyewitnesses, Idongesit Akpan said the confrontation led to an argument that resulted in the exchange of words, where the petrol dealer poured the fuel on Akpan and set him ablaze.

Akpan further stated that the dealer collected the petrol, poured it on his victim, and lit a match stick, thus setting the complainant ablaze while others ran helter-skelter for safety.

According to Akpan, the victim was rescued by villagers and students who rushed him to Mercy Hospital in Abak for immediate treatment, and afterwards alerted the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Nse Essien of the incident.

He said: “The incident attracted the attention of community leaders such as former Chairman of Oruk Anam, Prince Ubong Idiong who prevailed on students to forestall reprisal action by students of the university.

“The victim was later transferred to another hospital in Uyo for better treatment,” he stated.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Odiko Mcdon, confirmed the incident.

He said the police were hunting for the suspect who escaped from the scene of the crime before the police arrived.

“I am aware of the incident. The suspect escaped from the scene but the police is trailing him and he will certainly be brought to book,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State University Students’ press in a statement urged students to be calm saying, “Enwongo has been transferred to UUTH, Uyo from Mercy Hospital, Abak for adequate medical attention.

“We appreciate the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nse Essien, The Dean of Students Affairs Dr Monday Dickson and Hon. Sampson Idiong for their swift response as they’ve assured immediate security actions against the culprit.

“We call on the student community to keep calm as the Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Students Affairs and the Village Head have put things under control.

“We further plead to Akwa Ibom State Government that adequate measures of security be taken to keep the students safe in Obio Akpa community safe as the clashes between students and indigenes have become a reoccurring and uncontrollable event.”