Suspected cultists raze Police post in Akwa Ibom

By IDONGESIT ASHAMERI, Uyo

Cultists suspected to be members of the combating Dbam and Iceland confraternities on Monday night burnt down a police post at Inen Junction, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Hoodlums from the said groups have, during the last five months, terrorised the area, killing and maiming members of the communities around the area.

It was gathered that  policemen posted to the  sub station known as ” Inen Ekeffe police post”  absconded from their duty post in the wake of cult related violence in the area, leaving the hoodlums  to engage  in daily  reprisal attacks .

It was further gathered that the heavily armed  cultists usually  overpower  the police,  killing and maiming  members of rival gang and  innocent people in the community .

Speaking with newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday, Mfonobong Okorie, a member of the community said the cultists numbering over 30 on Monday evening barricaded the community road between Faith Tabernacle Church, Inen Ikot Etim and the gate of Al Madal construction company where they snatched two motorcycles belonging to one Udeme Atanong and Ndifreke, respectively.

“Residents who wanted to visit their houses to obtain food items and rush back to their settlement camps  in neighbouring villages were trapped in the bush while the hoodlums molested and maimed anybody passing on the road “

Continuing , Okorie said after some hours, the cultists regrouped and moved towards  Inen Junction where they  burnt down the police sub station while  chanting war songs ”

He recalled that  the cultists went beserk when  an Elder was shot during vestry prayer  in the church  and a retired police Inspector was maimed in the same community   Both victims are currently eceiving treatment now in an undisclosed hospital in the state.

Okorie explained that the burnt police post was the  second within three  days after a former councillor’s house was destroyed  by the cultists.

“This police station was a rented property. It doesn’t belong to government but this night the cultists invaded the building and set it ablaze.”

Speaking to INDEPENDENT, one of the community leaders, Mr Anyanime Umoren condemned the killings and wanton destruction of lives and property saying such mayhem was unprecedented in the history of the community.

Umoren, a Public Relations Officer of Inen Stakeholders Forum said the community leaders have written several letters to governor Udom Emmanuel to act immediately to restore peace to the once quiet community but no response in any form.

“I don’t know what has come over our youths. Right now many people have deserted this Community except aged persons who have nowhere to run to. Please let governor Udom Emmanuel rescue us. We have written several letters to the governor but no response. Killings continue here. No police to challenge these hoodlums.”

On his part, the police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom state command, SP Odiko Mcdon has confirmed the incident but argued that the building was  dilapidated structure rented as an out station of Nigeria Police .

“The building is a dilapidated one that was previously owned by police as an outstation office for our personnel but later shut down because of inadequate manpower in the force.”

Mcdon dismissed the incident as an ordinary fire that gutted an abandoned building in the area saying everything should not be attributed to cultism.

“How do you know that the fire was ignited by cultists? Everything there may not be cultism.” (Daily Independent)