No fewer than 16 persons have been reportedly killed following three days of bloody clashes by rival cult groups involving the Klaans and the Black Axe confraternities, who engaged each other over control of mini bus parks in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The bone of contention is the toll collections, investigations revealed on Tuesday to newsmen.
Most of the affected areas including adjoining areas of Idu, in Uruan Local Government Area, where the crises started before spreading to the local communities of Use Offot, Ekpri Nsukara, and Oniong communities in Uyo LGA, have been deserted as about 16 persons and properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed in yet-to-be contained violence.
It was learnt that trouble started when the the two confraternities engaged each other in a fierce fight on Sunday, over alleged encroachment into some parks earmarked for a different cult group, to collect the parking tolls, forcing angry reaction from the opposing group.
Narrating their ordeals, Nora Iwang, a local Journalist and one Aniefiok Usen, both residents around the Nwanibba area, the main epicentre of the violence, lamented that they had to sleep with relations and friends outside the area, following distressed calls from frightful neighbours around the Udo Ekpo Nkpo Street.
“Thank God, I finally arrived my house this morning (Tuesday) after my friends called me Monday evening to sleep elsewhere and not to return for fear of being killed by the rampaging armed hoodlums,” Iwang lamented.
“My wife called me at about 7:50pm on Monday that I should not return home because of ongoing killings around my area in Udo Ekpo Nkpo Street and the adjoining areas of Nwanibba, Ekpri Nsukara, Eniong Offot and Use Offot communities. I had to take refuge at my sister’s place off Abak Road till this morning, Tuesday,” Usen said.
“Throughout these last three days, we’ve been staying indoors from 6:00pm because of the fight and the Police operatives would only mount the guard on major roads, harrasining ordinary civilians without going into the villages to confront the real culprits,” another resident, who identified herself as Emem Duncan, told our Correspondent.
Eight persons, checks revealed, were slaughtered in Use Offot, and over 10 others killed in Anua, Ekpri Nsukara and Oniong communities, while several others have been hospitalised in various hospitals with varying degrees of injuries.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the killings, said only four persons were mowed, assuring that “the Commissioner of Police (CP), Olatoye Durosinmi, is miffed at the disruption of public order and safety by two rival cult groups at Anua Offot and Use Offot, both at Nwaniba, in Uyo Local Government Area, leading to the loss of lives.
“The CP condemned in strong terms the wanton destruction of lives and has vowed to bring perpetrators to book, hence, he has deployed Tactical resources to restore order and fish out the perpetrators.
“The CP has, therefore, called on residents of the said communities and Uyo, to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation and be assured of their safety because of strategies emplaced. He has sent a clear warning to perpetrators of these dastardly acts to desist forthwith or face the dire consequences of their actions.”
