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General News of Thursday, 22 July 2021

Source: punch.ng

Cultist killed at Akwa Ibom peace meeting, monarch, residents flee

Governnor Udom Emmanuel Governnor Udom Emmanuel

Two persons have been killed in Udianga Enem community in the Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State while the village head, Chief Josiah Udoekoriko, reportedly fled his palace in a renewed supremacy battle between suspected members of Iceland confraternity and Debam group.

Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun LGAs have been under intense cult war which had resulted in loss of lives and property in the last four years.

Governnor Udom Emmanuel was forced to grant amnesty to the cults for peace to reign in the areas.

Our correspondent reports that the latest incident occurred on Monday when suspected members of Iceland confraternity, led by one Oto, from Obon Ebot, stormed the Udianga Enem community allegedly to retrieve stolen items seized by Debam confraternity in the nearby community of Obong Ntak.

A community source said the invaders came in to negotiate peacefully with the Debam group, led by one Samuel Okonko, popularly called ‘Angel Boy,’ in order to retrieve the stolen property, but the negotiation broke down.

The source said, “The disagreement that followed led to the death of one person while others fled. People abandoned their farms and fled.”

The source added that ‘Angel Boy’ had earlier killed one person at Obong Ntak community during the looting, “but when he was identified by the man that was shot on Monday of having led his gang to cart away people’s valuables; he killed him.”

“We could not report the matter to the Police at the Area Command because the village head, who would have coordinated the process, immediately fled his palace” the source further said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, confirmed the incident, saying, “A full scale investigation will begin as soon as the Etim Ekpo Area Command gives details.

He warned the hoodlums in the habit of taking the law into their own hands to desist or be prepared to face the fire-power of police, saying, “No one should cash in on the peaceful nature of the state to perpetrate evil.”