Five persons have been feared dead in Urua Ekpa community, an outskirt of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state when two rival cult groups clashed in the area.
It was learnt that the clash which involved members of the Vikings confraternity and Iceland group started over a girl on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning.
The clash caused many people their phones, hand bags, jewelries, money and other variables as they scampered for safety. Many shops within the vicinity of the incidence were also locked down by the owners.
Some of the cults members dressed in red apparel and armed with guns were seen moving around the area in search of their rivals.
Heavily armed Policemen from ‘E’ Division have been dispatched to the area by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, our reporter learnt.
One of the witnesses, a male who preferred to remain anonymous, said “at about 9pm on Tuesday when I was returning home from the market, I heard a gunshot down the street and I thought it was a motor tyre bursting but after some time, I heard another gunshot, then I knew something was wrong.
“A few minutes later, I heard people running and screaming for their lives and by this time the gunshots were everywhere, there was sporadic shooting.
“Since yesterday this area has been under serious security threat, we couldn’t sleep last night. Three persons including one of our neighbours have been killed,” he said.
Another witness, Akpan, who runs a barbing saloon along Urua Ekpa road, Ata Idung, said “There was a big problem here in this village; those guys were a big problem for all of us here yesterday. They continued this morning and I can confirm to you that two persons have died on this our street.
“I was preparing to come to my barbing saloon this morning when a group of guys started chasing our neighbour from here. They later caught up with him down the street, where they mercilessly murdered him”.
In his reaction, the state Police spokesman, Odiko Macdon, said: “The Akwa Ibom Police Command received a distress call about a clash between two rival cult groups around Urua Ekpa area.
“The Commissioner of Police ordered immediate deployments. Two persons have been arrested, no life confirmed loss.
“Investigation is ongoing but normalcy has been restored. However, the Command will not tolerate any act from any quarters that will truncate the peaceful disposition of the state. Those concerned must desist forthwith”.
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