Suspected members of Debam and Iceland confraternities at Inen community in Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom state engaging in blood bath clashes in the last 8 months on Monday night burnt down a police post at Inen Junction as residents flee their homes.
It was gathered that policemen posted to the substation known as Inen Ekeffe police post absconded from their duty post in the wake of cult related violence in the area leaving the hoodlums to engage in daily reprisal attacks.
Our Correspondent also gathered that the cultists always overpowered the police killing and maiming members of rival gang and innocent people in the community.
An eyewitness, Mfonobong Okorie, said the cultists numbering over 30 barricaded the community road between Faith Tabernacle Church, Inen Ikot Etim and the gate of Al Madal constructioncompany where they snatched two motorcycles belonging to one Udeme Atanong and Ndifreke Otu, respectively.
“Residents, who wanted to visit their houses to obtain food items and rush back to their settlement camps in neighbouring villages, were trapped in the bush while the hoodlums molested and maimed anybody passing on the road.”
Continuing, Okorie said after some hours, the cultists regrouped and moved towards Inen Junction where they burnt down the police substation at about 7pm chanting war songs.
He recalled that the cultists went berserk when an elder was shot during vestry prayer in the church and a retired police inspector was maimed in the same community both of them receiving treatment now in an undisclosed hospital in the state.
Okorie explained that the burnt police post was the second in three days after a former councillor’s house was destroyed by the cultists.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom state command, SP Odiko Mcdon, confirmed the incident but argued that the building was a dilapidated structure rented to the Nigerian police as an out station.
