The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 60 suspected cultists in connection to the killings in the Inen Community in Orukanam Local Government Area of the State.
Two persons were killed on Saturday in the community while residents fled their homes following the clash between two cult groups, identified as Debam and Iceland confraternities. The two dead victims were Ofonime Uduak and Iniobong Silas.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Police command, Nnudam Fredrick on Monday said the deceased were suspected members of the two groups.
According to the statement, “On Sunday, 26th April 2020 at about 10 pm the Command received a disturbing report of a rival cult clash between members of the Debam and Iceland cult confraternities in Inen Clan which culminated to the death of one Ofonime Uduak ‘m’ and Iniobong Kufre Silas’’.
“The deceased were suspected to be members of Iceland and Debam confraternities.
“The Police Command swung into action and arrested 60 suspects. Fifteen were charged to court for murder, while others were charged with murder and cultism.”
Fredrick added that the Command arrested four notorious cultists on Sunday who are terrorizing the same area.
According to him, the arrested suspects are Inyene Ime Udofia, 18; Monday Okon Ettete, 28; Victor Etim Daniel, 16; and Nsima Okon Udo, 18; all from Oruk Anam LGA.
He emphasized that the commitment of the Command is to adequately police the state, added that “the onslaught against cultists/cultism in the state will be sustained”.
