15 Suspected cultists killed during clash
At least, 15 persons were reportedly murdered during weekend in a renewed clash between two rival cult groups identified as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and the Vikings Confraternity in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital.
The cause of the latest clash is said to be a revenge of the murder of one member of the KKK members identified simply as Emeka, a phone accessories dealer penultimate week by the rival Vikings group, at Oron Road opposite the First Bank.
Vanguard report revealed that the crisis which started the previous week with minor attacks and maiming of suspected rival groups members escalated to a damning dimension weekend following the murder of some prominent members of both groups including one Papa Ekpa-Inua of the Vikings by the KKK group.
It was reported that, more casualties were said to have been recorded as the revenge extended to the Uyo suburbs including, Ifa-Atai, Uyo Village, the Plaza, the Ikot-Ekpene and Abak Roads and ten persons allegedly killed by one of the groups and five killed by the other group.
The Akwa-Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP. Etim Dickson confirmed the clashes but declined to mention the number of casualties and arrests during a telephone chat with the Vanguard.
He explained that it was impossible at the time to mention the figures since more casualties were still being reported and more arrests made.
“All I can say for now is that many arrests have made in connection with the cult clash but I cannot tell you the figures of the casualties and the number of arrests made yet.
“Besides, some of the people who were earlier arrested were released after interrogation as they were found to be innocent in the case”, he stated.
To bring normalcy to the state’s capital and curtail the cults menace, the PPRO said a meeting of all the “DPOs and Area Commanders had been summoned and the respective officers charged to beef up security in their domains and make arrests as may be necessary”.