Following the killing of three police and an unknown number of soldiers and the missing of four others in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian military has begun aerial bombardment of the area said to be a hideout of gunmen.
The military deployed drones and helicopters which flew at low levels to ensure proper surveillance of the area.
Sources in the community said the military had on Monday asked residents to vacate the area.
According to them, staff and students of the Federal Polytechnic Ukana in Essien Udim located few metres from the residence of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio were forced out of the school campus.
The Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic in Ikot Ekpene was also shut.
Captain Godfrey Abakpa, the Army Public Relations Officer of the 2 Brigade said ”They are miscreants for now. We can’t categorise them until they are apprehended and questioned to know their intention and who sent them”.
