Nigeria since last year conducting research on some aspects of African culture, especially the Ekpe society in which he had been initiated.
[Correction: Ivor Miller is a
US citizen.]

Sources said one of the attackers was arrested by the guards who succeeded in overpowering them before contacts were made with one of the kingmakers, Etubom Dr. Ambrose Akpanika, who invited the police to take the arrested person to the police station.

Ekpo-Bassey was lucky as he escaped but his house, believed to be more than 100 years old was not spared as the invaders vandalized it.

Eye witnesses said before the police arrived, another group of invaders arrived in a bus accompanied by mobile policemen. They were said to have vandalized whatever they could lay their hands on and attacked whoever they foundin the residence.

The mobile policemen also effected the arrest of Akpanika, Ekpo-Bassey's wife, all his guards and staff, as well as the Cuban national and members of his household , including his children . The children were later released.

When THISDAY visited the residence at about 3.30pm , there was nobody to talk to as the black entrance gate to the residence was locked.

The debris of the massive destruction done to the house and cars could be seen from outside through openings in the side of the gate.

There were also blood stains on the floor from the residence to at least fifty metres from there into the streets.

A bus with the inscription South South People Assembly (SSPA), which Akpanika used in conveying the policemen initially to the residence, was