Suspected cultists Wednesday killed a commercial bus driver at Edem Akai axis of Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Abak highway in Akwa Ibom State.
Straightnews reported Wednesday that the hoodlums said to be angered by the escape of one Udoma, a provision store dealer whom they had gone to kidnap started to rob randomly.
The hoodlums, said to be members of Iceland cult, set ablaze Udoma’s store.
An eye witness, one Moses in the area confided in Straightnews that the cultists later blocked the road.
“Not long, the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) vehicle approached, the frustrated hoodlums having missed their target stopped it. They rained bullets on the bus and robbed passengers. Eight escaped with bullet wounds.”
Another unnamed eyewitness collaborated thus “The hoodlums blocked the road and robbed people. The AKTC bus ran into them, but tried to escape. About six cultists shot at it.
“The bullets ignited fire, which burnt down the bus. When I heard gunshots, I escaped into Edem Akai Primary School with my motorcycle and watched the incident from there.
“After robbing the passengers, the cultists snatched a Toyota Camry car and escaped with it.
“They took the untarred road through Udianga Enem to their hideout at Okoyo village. Others followed the stolen car on their motorcycles.
The hoodlums robbed nearby shops. Policemen, who usually block Ikot Nya section of the highway, escaped in their van.”
DSP Odiko O. Macdon, Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom Police Command spokesman, confirmed the incident, saying he was yet to be briefed by the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officer of Etim Ekpo.
In another development, some gunmen have killed a former policeman and two others at Ikot Udobong, Ikot Obioma and Edem Akai groups of villages in Etim Ekpo local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
It was learnt on Thursday that the three men were killed when two rival cult groups — the Iceland (the Red) and Debam (the White) engaged each other in a battle of supremacy in the last two days.
Many other people were also said to have sustained different degrees of injuries during the gun battle.
Our correspondent gathered that some of those identified as dead include a retired policeman from Nkanang compound in Ikot Udobong, Okon Nkanang, and Akpan Inyang from Ntuk compound in the neighbouring Ikot Obioma village.
A source who refused to be named said Inyang was allegedly killed by the Iceland group, in place of his brother who was alleged to be a member of the Debam group.
Inyang’s brother was said to have escaped after sighting the gun-wielding Icelanders on motorbikes en-route their compound at Ikot Obioma.
Although the specific motive behind the killing of the retired policeman could not be ascertained as at press time, it was gathered that the deceased may have been a security informant or a relation to the wanted member of the Debam group.
Odiko Macdon, the Police Public Relations Officer, said he has heard of the incident but has not confirmed officially.
“That information has not been given to me officially, but I’ve just heard of it.
“I’m yet to get an official report. By the time we get it, we will know whether he was a former police officer and from which area and all that,” he said.
