Fear has enveloped several communities including Udianga Enem, Abak-Obong, Ikot Udobong, Ikot Obioma, Otoro, Obon Ebot and Ikot Mkporikpo group of villages in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as suspected culitists continue their supremacy war, ahead of the November 17 Local Government elections.
At the weekend, suspected cultists again invaded Udianga Enem community and opened fire on a group of mourners, killing one person, Udeme Dickson, popularly called ‘Ele’, while seven others, according to some local residents, escaped with bullets wounds.
The attacked, the second in about three weeks, was said to have been led by a notorious militant leader of the Iceland cult group, Akaninyene Jumbo, alias ‘Iso Akpafid, from Ikot Ibekwe village in the neighbouring Ukanafun Local Government Area.
“We were just standing here to plan for the funeral of our in-law from Nto Unang village after we returned from the all night vigil, and suddenly we saw five motorcycles bearing armed men. Before we could escape, they opened fire immediately.
“Some of us were lucky to escape unhurt, but our friend, Udeme Dickson, was caught in the head and chest by the bullets, while others fled with bullets wounds”, an eye witness, who would not want his name in print, laments.
“The whole walls of the Udo Unwa Okpo compound where we stood to discuss our movement back to Nto Unang village for the funeral proper, were completely shattered by the bullets fired randomly by the cultists”, he added.
Three weeks ago, the same group, according to the village head, Chief Mendie Josiah Udoekoriko, had attacked the village, killing four persons, including a Pastor, simply identified as Uwem Monday Ananki.
“Currently, the entire village is completely deserted, giving the hoodlums enough room to break into people’s homes to steal agricultural products, livestock, clothes, cash and household properties”, the monarch, who spoke outside his domain, explained.
He appealed to governor Udom Emmanuel, to “come to the aid of my people because we are all living in exile in places like Iwukem, Utu Etim Ekpo, Ika, Abak, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene.
It was gathered; the rural dwellers had to leave the affected communities in droves, as the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Udeme Eduo, who hails from the area, made haste to evacuate his aged parents to the capital, Uyo.
Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Etim Ekpo, who simply identified himself as Mr. Chris, lamented that the Police efforts to tackle the problem were being frustrated by political leaders of the area.
“It is a very pathetic situation because the entire area is deserted. When the incident happened, we went there with over 10 Police patrol teams, but sadly, we could only see few old men and women who are barely able to walk.
“The Local Government Chairman has not been cooperating with the Police and no one is ready to volunteer information. They know these cultists, but they are willing to provide information on where they could be located”, the DPO said, adding that the work of the Police was being hampered by lack of political will to enforce serious clampdown on the suspects.
“It is not only us that have knowledge of what is going on in Etim Ekpo. The Police high Commands including the Inspector General Police (IGP) and the State Headquarters are aware”, he said, but lamented that lack of cooperation by political leaders of the area including the Council Chair, Hon. Eduo, was hampering the Police action.
Corroborating him, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu, said it would be difficult for the Police to get result out of the terror war, “when the people are not reporting the matter and collaborate with security agencies to apprehend the criminals”.
He urged community and political leaders to partner with security agencies in order to guarantee safer environment for socio-economic activities as well as government policies and programmes to thrive.
“The Police, no matter how sophisticated cannot work alone to achieve the desired results of guaranteeing a peaceful and crime-free society, so the people must work with the Police”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, those injured at the Udianga Enem cult attack, it was gathered, had been taken to an undisclosed hospital in Uyo, the State capital, were medics were said to be battling to extract pieces of bullets lodged in their system.
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