Fear has enveloped some communities in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following the resurgence of cults’ war in some communities earlier sacked by deadly cults crises few years ago.
Two persons were reportedly killed by suspected members of the Icelaand confraternity in the ongoing cults war even as governor Udom Emmanuel, has outlawed no fewer than 65 cult groups in the state.
Those killed, according to a source, are indigenes of Okoyo village in Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state, adding that “they were killed near Akpan Ido compound at about 4:00 a.m. in Ikot Ese village, while they were returning from a night prayer organized by the New Church in Ikot Ese Village.
He identified the victims as Nkereuwem Ime Udo Ekere and Effioyo Emmanuel, said to be returning from a night vigil organized by the New Church at Ikot Ese village.
“These people were attending a night prayer and crusade at the New Church in Ikot Ese village. They own a gospel band that some churches and other events planners would hire for their occasion.
“After the prayer session, they left the church as early as 4:00 a.m on motorcycle heading towards Okoyo village in Ukanafun Local Government Area, but were ambushed few metres from the church near Enen Akpan Ido (Akpan Ido compound) and shot dead.
“The motorcycle rider died instantly, while the passenger who fled with serious bullet wounds later collapsed and died,” he explained.
The eye witness added: “Many people have lost their lives trying to navigate the labyrinthine road from Ikot Ese to connect the Urua Obo Inyang market axis that leads to Okoyo and other areas in the neighbouring Ukanafun Local Government Area.
“It is the continuation of the cult war between the Icelanders (the Red) and the Debam (the White) because this supremacy war has been ongoing in the last couple of months and, if you check, the assailant did not steal the motorcycle or any other valuables from them.”
“We were sacked from these communities few years ago and we fled to become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Iwukem, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Abak. We relocated to these new places because our husbands.
”Our children and our wives were killed. Some abducted with our livestock and farm produce were stolen to feed kidnapped victims while negotiating for ransom,” a 67-year-old widow, who would not wants her name in print, laments.
“The governor graciously granted amnesty and many of the cultists emerged from the bush to drop their arms and were captured in the amnesty programme, and there was some semblance of peace which forced us to return.
“Now election time is near and the guns are booming again because most of these cultists work for politicians and earn their pay during every election year,” another victim, who lost a Pastor to the crises, added.
He, therefore, appealed to governor Udom Emmanuel to “take a second look at Etim Ekpo as another election year looms, to avoid another round of killings, kidnappings, armed robbery and other crimes like rape that forced the displacement of the locals few years ago.”
Investigation revealed that the worst affected communities including Obon Ebot, Udianga Enem, Obong Ntak, Ikot Una, Ikot Mkporikpo and other adjoining communities are controlled by a notorious cult leader of the Iceland confraternity.
The latest killing brought to four, the number of cults’-related killings in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, as two were earlier killed at Obong Ntak and Udianga Enem communities in the recent times.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko MacDon, who could not pick his calls, however, responded to a text message, saying that the matter was yet to be reported to the Police, adding that operatives would commence investigation of the incident.
“We don’t have official report of this nature yet. We will commence investigation, but anyone with useful information should please contact us,” the Police spokesman noted.
