Inspector Injured, Another Killed in Renewed Cult war

A man identified as Udo Mma has been reportedly killed, while a police inspector sustained injuries in the ongoing cult clash between Debam and Iceland confraternities in Inen community, OrukAnam local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Mma reportedly died on the spot while the retired police inspector, said to be bedridden with stroke in his village at Inen Ikot Ndoh was seriously wounded in his compound.

Reports said the cultists were not happy with the manner which the retired inspector was persuading them to allow peace prevail in the community as they continue in reprisal killings in the area.

An eyewitness, Mr Udo Jim, said the police officer, known as Inspector Okon Josiah, was worried by the rate of insecurity and wanton killings occasioned by cult clashes in his village, and decided to penetrate the rival cult groups begging them to stop further hostilities in the community.

“Inspector Okon begged the cultists for three weeks, pleading them to stop killings and all forms of terrorism as he cannot run away from the area considering his health conditions. But instead of the cultists to hearken to his pleas, they decided to maim him last weekend after they have killed one person. When the hoodlums arrived the policeman’s compound, family members ran away; but the victim could not escape because he has stroke. So, they gave him several matchet cuts.”

He said the hoodlums also injured other persons in the same village who are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Narrating the incident, another eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the cultists moved in motorcycle convoy to the next village chanting war songs, injuring many people, while others escaped into the bush and returned the following morning to pack their belongings to take refuge elsewhere.

In a telephone interview, the police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Mcdon, confirmed the incident saying three persons have arrested.

The police spokesman said the commissioner of police, Andrew Amiengheme, has ordered for urgent investigation to unravel the cause of cult clashes in the area which resulted in wanton killings.

“Right now, operations has commenced in the area to comb for those behind these killings. Operations is intensified more than before to end killings there. The Commissioner of Police intends to engage stakeholders in this exercise for credible result, as the command is very angry that people have turned to hunting spree for human lives.”