Gunmen attack state-owned media house in Akwa Ibom, kill security guard

Gunmen have attacked Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, publishers of Pioneer newspapers, and killed a security guard attached to the organisation.

Timfon John, the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, who confirmed the incident on Monday, said the gunmen attacked the media house on Friday.

The gunmen were said to have carted away a generator set, televisions, and some electrical wires during the attack.

“We are aware of the incident, and we are on top of the situation,” John said.

A witness expressed sadness over the killing of the security personnel, adding that such an attack could only be possible with insider collaboration.

“It’s a very sad development for all of us here, and most unfortunate is that the security officer who was shot dead by the criminals was not even a staff member of the newspaper corporation; this cannot happen without an insider’s collaboration,” the witness told TheCable.

Umoette Umoette, the general manager (GM) of the newspaper corporation, was not immediately available for comments on the incident.

He did not answer calls put across to his mobile phone at the time of filing this report.