ionigeria.com Nigerian Newspaper
Days after the state government outlawed activities of no fewer than 33 cult groups in Akwa Ibom State, suspected militants of the Iceland group have shot dead one Udeme Daniel Akpan.
Until his gruesome murder early yesterday morning, the deceased, father of three, was the youth leader of Ikot Edet community in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area. It was gathered, the deceased who was at the forefront of fighting the cult menace in his community, was served a notice to pay some undisclosed amount to the militants or risked being killed.
According to family sources, “he had to escape to the neighbouring community of Ibio Nnung Achat, where he remained as a fugitive until the militants obtained information through their network and mobilised to kill him”. “In fact, the shooting this morning was so heavy that Policemen stationed at Ibio Nnung Achat, had to scamper for safety”, he explained and called on government to deploy soldiers to the area as local residents have begun to flee the area in droves.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon Ogbeche, expressed surprise, that the action could jeopardise the peace deal the government, security agencies and stakeholders were trying to broker for the militants to drop their arms. He assured that the security agencies would have no other option to declare mass Police action in order to dislodge the hoodlums, while mopping up small arms and light weapons in the affected communities.
