The atmosphere in Ikot Ekwere Ubium Village in Nsit Ublum Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom was tensed as a black market petrol seller was arrested for burning his friend to death.
NIGERIACRIME learnt that the suspect, identified as Akpan Okon Akpan, allegedly set his friend, Junior Ime Philip ablaze of a disagreement pertaining to a phone charger.
It was also gathered that Akpan left his friend to die after the incident.
The incident was confirmed by the Akwa Ibom Police Command, stating that he has been apprehended by operatives of the Command.
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According to the state Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, who spoke to newsmen when the suspect was paraded at the command headquarters in Uyo, during a little altercation between the friends, Akpan bathed the deceased with petrol and ignited the fire, leading to Philip’s death.
He said, “On 15th December 2022 relying on a petition from Rev. Emmanuel Ime ‘m’ of Ikot Ekwere Ubium Village in Nsit Ublum LGA, at about 6:30pm, operatives of the homicide unit of the SCID Uyo, arrested one Akpan Okon Akpan ‘m’ of same address who poured fuel on his brother, one Junior Ime Philip and set him ablaze leading to his death because of a disagreement over a phone charger.”
Narrating what led to his action, the suspect said, “I don’t know the guy before, he ran into my shop and said he was looking for someone who collected his charger, I told him that such a person was not in my shop. Out of anger, he took a bottle and started fighting me and I fought back.
“I used the petrol I’m selling and poured it on him, honestly I didn’t know what I was doing until he started burning and people gathered, we were trying to put out the fire but it was already late because when they took him to hospital, he died there.”