By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Residents in Inen community in OrukAnam local council of Akwa Ibom have called for the intervention of Governor Udom Emmanuel over a siege on the community by rival cult groups in recent times.
This is even as they have deserted their homes as a result of frequent attacks by members of Dbam and Iceland confraternities engaged in supremacy battle in the last eight months.
What started as a clash for supremacy between the two rival cult groups has escalated to a shocking level that indigenes have abandoned their homes, now taking refuge in neighbouring villages for fear of possible genocide in the area.
Over 60 persons have been killed in many skirmishes , many declared missing by close relatives while scores are receiving treatment in various hospitals around the state.
A resident, Mr Victor Johnny told newsmen yesterday that hostilities perpetrated by hoodlums have crippled both social and religious activities in the area.
” Last Sunday no Church in the community held their worship service after an Elder was shot in the church vestry during prayers. All the churches closed down and members attended service in neighboring villages.
“The worst of it all is that all the schools both primary and secondary in the area have not resumed as teachers and pupils could not return for fear of hoodlums who may cause havoc at anytime. “Johnny
Narrating his personal experience, another resident Mr Friday Emmah, a poultry farmer now taking refuge in Port Harcourt said the cultists first invaded his poultry and removed about 200 chickens at different occasions out of his 600 birds and later broke windscreen of his car for no reason.
He therefore urged Governor Udom Emmanuel to rise to occasion and avert the impending anarchy reminiscent of the incident in Ukanafun local government area in the past where cultists later turn to militants holding the area to ransom for many years before the amnesty deal by government.
A wife to a victim, Mr. Friday Ufenang who was shot in the church vestry during early morning prayers last Sunday said the husband survived by God’s mercy after surgeries on the head to extract bullets while she would need more than N500,000 for other operations to restore her husband to normallcy.
Another victim ; a retired police Inspector Mr Okon Josiah Udoh now taking treatment in an undisclosed hospital in uyo for injuries he sustained when cultists attempted to kill him in the area with his case said to be very pathetic given his deteriorated health conditions even before the attack.
When newsmen visited the area , motorcycle operators popularly known as “okada” at Ikot Ibritam junction ,(the headquarters of OrukAnam council ) refused to carry any passenger to Inen community.
“Oga even if you give me one million naira , I would not carry you Inen. I don’t want to die . My wife and children are too dear to me . Please carry your wahala alone. If you like trek to that place . Whatever you see ‘take am like that’ . I can’t come”
In a telephone interview, the Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon expressed regrets over the state of insecurity in the community saying the command was aware of atrocities by cultists in the area.
” The command is very angry over what is happening in that community. We have set up a special team to tackle cultists there. Many have been arrested . Operation is ongoing in the area. We intend to involve stakeholders in the community to unravel those behind all the killings there. For those arrested , they would soon be charged to court.” Macdon said.
