By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
No fewer than three persons were reportedly killed and others critically injured in rival cults clashes involving two notorious confraternities Tuesday night in Uyo.
Witnesses around the Ibom Plaza axis of the city centre, told newsmen that the fracas, started at about 6:30 pm, and lasted for about two hours, before Police operatives and soldiers restored normalcy.
Aniekan Akpainyang, a tricycle operator, who spoke to Journalists, linked the remote cause of the violence to a minor disagreement at a betting shop, along Ikot Ekpene road by the plaza area, recalling that the incident triggered the old animosity between the rival groups.
“One cultist had placed a bet to the tune of N5,000, but could not pay after he lost. The shop attendant asked him to pay or drop his phone, but he refused and, instead called his gang members on phone, who came, pounced on the attendant and raided the shop.” He said.
He added that the resultant reprisal from the camp of the betting attendant, led to a free -for-all, with three persons killed; one at the Plaza area and one at the Ikpa road junction, close to the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) town campus, while another was reportedly killed at a street, few meters to the Uyo City centre.
The Police confirmed the incident, but could not give casualty figures in a statement on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), at about 6:30pm, the Command received information about a Cult clash at the Plaza.
“While the Commissioner of Police, CP, Olatoye Durosinmi, condemned in strong terms, the unfortunate incident which caused palpable fear among the good people of the state.
“The CP has reminded those involved in this dastardly act to note that the ban on cultism in the state is still in force and that henceforth, perpetrators of such acts will be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.
“The CP has therefore, called on residents to go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation as the Command has emplaced adequate security at the Plaza and around the state, throughout the Yuletide and beyond.” The statement said.
