There is palpable fear in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, as suspected cultists have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the principal of Uyo High School, Mr Michael Iwok, to lift the suspension of their members.
As a warning, some fetish objects, including fresh pepper, palm oil droplets, peeled cooked egg, palm front, a piece of red cloth, tied rope and ten naira note, were on Thursday dropped at the entrance of the principal’s office.
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Similar items and several inscriptions, believed to have been dropped by suspected cultists, were also seen at the entrance to Senior Secondary 3 classes.
In a bid to avoid any form of onslaught, the state government, on Thursday, ordered the closure of the school.
Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Dr Ekaette Ebong Okon, announced the immediate closure of the school.
Daily Trust gathered that trouble started when some students suspected to be cultists were recently suspended by the school authority.
Also aggrieved were some SS 2 students who could not meet up with the school requirements to be promoted into SS3.
Investigations reveal that on several occasions these two sets of students were responsible for all the mayhem in the school.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Odiko MacDon, when contacted on the matter, said the closure of the school over threats by suspected cultists had nothing to do with the police.
He said in pidgin English: ”Government close down school how that one come concern me.”
