How Seven People Die in Akwa Ibom Cult Clash

Seven persons have been killed in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, following a violent clash among three rival cult groups of Vikings, Red Skin, and KKK, alias Klansmen.

The incident which occurred over the weekend, at a beer parlour on Akpan Essien street, was said to have been sparked off by a group of young men, engaged in a heated political discussion.  The discourse was said to have later degenerated into a free for all.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the clash which started on Friday was sustained by high- ranking politicians and some chairmen of local government councils to pave the way for the 2015 elections.

A driver in the state’s Government House, Mr. Anieyie Essien, 27, was said to have been killed in the clash; he was buried in his father’s compound on Saturday.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that Anieyie was shot twice by some unidentified cultists.

He said, “After Anieyie had gone down, one of the cultists, who was a little far from him shouted, ‘finish him, confirm,’ and the people that shot him, brought out their cutlasses and hacked him to death.

“After Anieyie had been killed, many people abandoned the entire community for fear of being killed in a reprisal.”

It was also gathered that while Anieyie has been buried, the corpse of another victim was found along Udoumana, near Akpan Andem Market.

Other areas where corpses were said to have been seen are Akpa Ubeh, the environs of Itam Junction and Iboko Street.

When PUNCH Metro visited the compound of an alleged leader of one of the cults in Anua village, there were more than 50 young men on guard. They were said to be protecting their leader.

Residents of Udo Ikpe, Urua Udofia, Udoinwang, Anderson, Akpa Edor and Asukwo Akpan streets, within Uyo metropolis lamented that they had been living in fear in the last one month, due to harassment from the cultists.

 At Sand Beach community in Ewet Housing, residents were said to restrict their movements once it is 7pm, for fear of being kidnapped, killed or raped by the cultists allegedly living in the area.

An employee  of a  microfinance bank who craved anonymity, told our correspondent that he had been dispossessed of money, mobile phones in the area, when he was returning from work in the evening.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident. He said not less than six cultists had been arrested in connection with the clash.

He said, “We are aware that for sometime now, the cultists have been killing one another. Some arrests have been made through the combined efforts of the Quick Response Squad, and the policemen of the A Division. The suspects would be prosecuted, no matter, the standing of their respective families in the society.”

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