After 10 months of brutal cult war, peace has returned to the troubled Inen communities in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
This follows a peace meeting between Oruk Anam Local Government Council and repentant cultists belonging to Debam, Iceland, Jagaban and Greenish confraternities at Ikot Ibritam, the council’s headquarters, on Monday, December 21.
The intermittent clashes that resulted in the death of more than 10 persons and displacement of about 3,000 persons turned the affected communities to epicentre of rape, robbery and kidnappings.
The Oruk Anam chairman, Kingsley Frank thanked leaders and members of the cult groups for embracing peace and resolving to settle the lingering crisis that bedeviled the local government area, less than one month after his assumption of office as the council’s boss.
Frank lamented that the once peaceful communities were deserted at the height of cult clashes in Inen clan, which resulted in wanton killings, maiming and bloodletting.
He observed that the crisis was unnecessary as no meaningful development could occur in an atmosphere of unrest.
“Development cannot thrive in a place where there is no peace. That is why I have decided to solve this problem once and for all,” the chairman said.
Responding, one of the former cultists from Mbiaso village in Inen clan thanked the Executive Chairman for a show of kindness to them, and vowed to let down their arms.
He promised of other members that they are ready to let peace reign in the local government area, noting “We are happy we are back and we can now sleep in our houses.”
At the peace parley was the Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam, Obong Johnson Obosi, Village Heads, youth leaders and women representatives.
Straightnews gathered from a reliable source more than 3,000 displaced persons have left QIC Ikot Ibritam, their temporary camp for home following the peace pact.
The people who fled the areas in the aftermath of the crisis started heading home from Tuesday to celebrate the Yuletide with their families.
