Suspected cultists kill two in Akwa Ibom

The quiet state of Okoyo village in Ukanafun local government council in Akwa Ibom State was thrown into turmoil at the weekend following the killing of two persons by members of the Iceland cult group.

This might not be unconnected with the alleged resurgence of cult activities in the neighbouring council area of Etim Ekpo.

According to sources from Ukanafun local government, the two persons killed are indigenes of Okoyo village who were killed near Akpan Ido compound at about 4:00 am in Ikot Ese village, while returning from a night prayer organized by the New Church in Ikot Ese community.

The source identified the victims as Nkereuwem Ime Udo Ekere and Effioyo Emmanuel.

“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,” a source told The Guardian.

“After the prayer session, they left the Church as early as 4:00am on motorcycle heading towards Okoyo village in Ukanafun Local Government Area, but were ambushed few meters 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.

“Many people have lost their lives trying to navigate the 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 suspected that 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.”

It was gathered the latest killings have brought the number of cults’-related killings in Etim Ekpo Local Government to four as two persons were earlier killed at Obong Ntak and Udianga Enem communities recently.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon, responding to a telephone said the matter was yet to be reported, adding that operatives would commence an investigation of the incident.

“We don’t have official report of this nature yet. We will commence investigation, as we speak, the CP is on a familiarization tour of Etim Ekpo council area and has not be told of the incident,” Macdon said.