The village head of Udianga Enen community in Etim Ekpo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, Josiah Udoekoriko has reportedly fled his community as two rival cult groups clashed killing two persons.

It was gathered that there was a renewed supremacy battle between suspected members of Iceland confraternity and Debam group on Monday night in the community.

 

Recall that Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun Local government Areas have been under intense cult war which resulted in lost of lives and property in the last four years. Governor Udom Emmanuel was forced to grant amnesty to the cult groups for peace to reign in the areas.

 

It was gathered that the Monday’s incident occurred 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 who pleaded anonymity 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 along the line altercation ensued.

 

He said, “Suspected members of the Iceland group came for a truce with the other group, Debam, which is led by Samuel Jessy Okonko, popularly called ‘Angel Boy’ with a view to recovering those properties through peaceful negotiation.

 

“Unfortunately, there was a disagreement leading to the death of one person while others fled. The resurgence of gun violence has forced people to abandon their farms and fled.

 

According to the source, the ‘Angel Boy’ had earlier killed one person at Obong Ntak community during the looting, saying when he was identified by the deceased of having led his gang to cart away peoples wares in their community; he deliberately shot and 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.”

 

However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident assured that, “full scale investigation will begin as soon as the Etim Ekpo Area Command gives details”.

 

He, therefore, urged members of the civil society to be law abiding and report any act of crime in good time for the Police to nib such crisis in bud.

 

He warned the hoodlums in the habit of taking the laws into their hands to desist or be prepared to face the fire-power of Police operatives, saying “no one should cash in on the peaceful nature of the state to perpetrate evil.