Cultists allegedly kill 2, sack community during clash in Akwa Ibom

Two persons have been allegedly killed in a renewed cult clash between cult groups in Inen community in Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

It was learnt that the killings and cult clashes have caused residents of the community to flee their homes.

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It was also gathered that one of the victims, Ufot Uwah, popularly known in the community as “a raggae” was the chief security officer of Al Madal construction company handling Ikot Ibritam-Inen Ekeffe/Ukanafun road construction site for the Akwa Ibom state government, while the second victim was simply identified as “Papa Lucky” from Etok Inen village.

An eyewitness, Mrs Nko Etukudoh, told our correspondent that the two corpses were found on Saturday morning along a lonely footpath leading to the neighbouring village.

She said the elder brother of the deceased, Mr Iboro Uwah, called the Police in Oruk Anam informing them of the corpses, adding that the Police had evacuated the corpses to the mortuary.

“We woke up this morning to see two corpses lying down on the footpath leading to another village.

“On inspection, we discovered that it was our brother, Ufot Johnson Uwah, known in the community as “a raggae” and the other one, “Papa Lucky” from Etok Inen village.

“We are shocked.

“A Raggae was lying down with his boots on his legs, and bared body with blood oozing out from his nose.

“He was facing the sky showing that there was a scuffle with his assailants while “Papa Lucky was lying down with his clothes intact.

“A Raggae (Ufot Uwah) was a youth activist and socialite before he was engaged by Al Madal construction company handling the road construction work in the community, while Papa Lucky was a speedboat driver who ferried foodstuff and passengers from the community waterfront to Bonny Island in Rivers State,” she stated.

Another eyewitness, who preferred to remain unnamed, said “a raggae” was the Chairman of Inen Vigilante Task Force and had worked to secure the area against burglary, before the construction firm employed him as its Chief Security Officer.

He stated that two months ago, when the cult groups clash led to the killing of six persons in the community, the deceased was invited by the Police but he turned down the invitation.

“After the killing of two soldiers on this road last year, the company handed over the security at the site to “a raggae”.

“Last month, one of the persons killed during the cult clash was a company staff, who was cut to pieces.

“Today, the Chief Security Officer of the company and another person have been killed.

“As soon as I’m through with you here, I would carry my bags and leave this village,” he said.

Sources told our correspondent that following the continued cult clashes in the area, the Paramount Ruler, His Royal Majesty, Johnson Obosi, was forced to relocate from the area.

The source added that owing to the cult clash in the community in May, the Police raided the home of the Chief Security Officer and carried away over 12 motorcycles, fridges and other items.

The late Chief Security Officer was said to have been invited to the State Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, but the deceased failed to honour the invitation.

When the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP N-Nudam Fredrick, was contacted, he denied knowledge of the incident, saying, “I don’t have such report at my disposal”.