Months of intense cults war have continued unabated as no fewer than four persons have been consumed in some communities in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State on Sunday.
The killings, it was gathered, followed months of supremacy battle involving two rival outlawed cult groups – Iceland (The Red) and the Debam (The White) – confraternities.
Those killed, it was learnt, include one Samuel Ekeke Mkpokporo from Udianga Enem village and Gideon Monday Udoekong from Ikot Umoabiat village in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
Besides, an unidentified victim from Ikot Unah village in Ukanafun was mowed down.
One Kingsley Monday John Ibanga, a suspected Icelander from Ikot Ibekwe village in Ukanafun Local Government Area was said to have committed suicide.
”He corked a pistol, put in his pocket and moved about. Not long, the pistol allegedly exploded, burst through his testes and ripped off his buttock. He cried and sent for his mother who was in the Church. On arrival, the mother took him to a nearby hospital but he died on the way,’’ a family source confided in Straightnews.
”The man was in the wanted list. He had perpetrated a lot of havocs in the area and neighbouring villages,’’ another source told Straightnews.
The Youths Leader of Udianga Enem village, Comrade Udeme John, who confirmed the killings, saying “I have personally made entry concerning the matter at the Etim Ekpo Area Command.”
“The remains of one of them, Samuel in Udianga Enem, were hurriedly buried on Monday, October 18, 2021, and when the village head, Chief Mendie Josiah Udoekoriko, advised the family to delay the burial till the Police were informed, to no avail, I had to personally report the matter at the Area Command.
“Samuel was shot dead at the Qua Iboe Church junction in Udianga Enem, while Gideon was killed at the small market in Ikot Udobong, and this would be the second such killings in my community in the recent times,” he explained.
He recalled that residents had fled the two Local Government Areas few years ago, and only returned to the communities after governor Udom Emmanuel, had granted amnesty to some repentant militants, who agreed to down arms in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.
He, therefore, urged the governor and security agencies to review the amnesty programme with a view to capturing the remnants for sustainable peace in the affected communities.
However, a suspected cult leader of the Iceland confraternity, simply identified as Oto, from Obon Ebot village in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, is alleged to be the mastermind of some attacks against the opposing group.
“Otto has been going round and killing people, saying he has the mandate to kill those he believed are cultists for allegedly using his name to commit crime. He uses charms to detect his targets and killed them instantly,” a local resident told journalists in Etim Ekpo.
In response to inquiry by Straightnews on Monday, October 18, Superintendent Odiko MacDon, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said ”The Command has received a report that one Gideon Monday Udoekong of Ikot Umoabiat was shot by an unknown person along Iwukem-Ukanafun Road, precisely at Ikot Udobong. The Command also received another report that one Kingsley David John of Ikot Ibekwe in Ukanafun LGA was found dead in his neighbourhood
”The Commissioner of Police, CP ANDREW AMIENGHEME fdc, has reacted swiftly by deploying Tactical Teams to the Areas to fish out the perpetrators while a discrete investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding these deaths and to bring those responsible for these dastardly acts to justice.’’
According to him, ”The Command wishes to enjoin the good Residents of Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun to go about their lawful business without any form of as security has been beefed up in those areas. The Command has received a report that one Gideon Monday Udoekong of Ikot Umoabiat was shot by an unknown person along Iwukem-Ukanafun Road, precisely at Ikot Udobong. The Command also received another report that one Kingsley David John of Ikot Ibekwe in Ukanafun LGA was found dead in his neighbourhood.”
‘’The Commissioner of Police, CP ANDREW AMIENGHEME fdc, has reacted swiftly by deploying Tactical Teams to the Areas to fish out the perpetrators while a discrete investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding these deaths and to bring those responsible for these dastardly acts to justice.
‘’The Command wishes to enjoin the good residents of Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun to go about their lawful business without any form of fear as security has been beefed up in those areas,’’ he stated.
