Tension rose today when unidentified gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday killed a Chief Superintendent of Police, Benedict Okoh Ajide and other police officers in the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state

The Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio is from the local government area.

Police and army operational vehicles who were on patrol of the area were burnt

Reports say the gunmen numbering about 50 who were protesting against the Local Government Chairman attacked the police and military men mobilized to the local government for peace-keeping.

CSP Benedict Okoh Ajide who led the squad to the LG fell to the bullets of the hoodlums while the driver of the hilux van was burnt alongside the vehicle.

According to the source, many military men were killed in the failed operation, even as many police officers are still missing