Men of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command are after an unidentified roadside petrol hawker accused of setting a university student, Enwongo Akpan, ablaze.
The victim, a 200-level Philosophy student of the Akwa Ibom State University, was said to have been set ablaze by the hawker, who immediately after the incident took to his heels.
The victim’s elder brother, Idongesit Akpan, said the incident happened when the student complained that the petrol he sold to him was an adultrated product.
He said the victim and and the suspect started an argument that led the hawker to spray the student with the petrol to prove that his product was not adulterated.
According to him: “My brother, Enwongo Akpan, had bought petrol worth N500 naira for his generator only to realise that after pouring it into his generator, the engine refused to start.
“Believing that the problem was due to bad fuel, he went back to the hawker with the fuel to demand a refund of his money. But the petrol seller refused to refund the money leading to hot argument between them
“In the course of argument, the hawker collected the petrol, poured it on the student, struck a match and set him ablaze and took to his heels.
“My brother was rescued by villagers and students, who alerted the Vice Chancellor of his university, Prof. Nse Essien, after he had been rushed to Mercy Hospital in Abak for immediate treatment.
“The incident attracted attention of community leaders, including the former Chairman of Oruk Anam Council Area, Mr. Ubong Idiong, who pleaded with the students to be calm. He made the appeal to forestall reprisal action by the students on the community while my brother was later transferred to another hospital in Uyo for better treatment ”
The police spokesperson in the state, Mr. Odiko McDon, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said: “Yes we are aware of the incident, the suspect escaped from the scene of the crime before police arrived to arrest him. But our men are on his trail and he will soon be brought found and justice.”
