Gunmen suspected to be cult members on Sunday continued their siege on Abak Obong Village in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, killing two people and leaving scores of others injured.
Chief Bassey Ikpaisong, the village head of the community was critically wounded in the attack.
A local resident told The Next Edition in Uyo on Monday that there was pandemonium in the restive community when the gunmen attacked it.
A family source of the deceased who did not want his named mentioned said the monarch brother, Mr. Fred Ikpaisong and a youth, simply identified as Mr. Udotim Essien, were shot and killed instantly at close range.
“Right now, our village head is hospitalized because of the attack and it is not known whether he will survive from the wounds he sustained in the attack as he cannot talk to people who visited him at the hospital,” the source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu, has confirmed the incident, assuring that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of the area “has intervened and brought the matter under control”.
“When I contacted the DPO, he told me that immediately he heard of the matter, he rushed down with his men and calmed the situation,” he added.
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The Etim Ekpo incident is coming barely two days after similar attack left four people dead and houses burnt in the neighboring Udianga Enem village.
Meanwhile the survivors of the two incidents have called for increased security presence in the troubled areas.
The state Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, has waded into the matter.
The governor, who worshiped at the weekend in one of the Qua Iboe Churches within the troubled areas of Ukanafun, solicited for prayers and God’s divine intervention for restoration of peace to troubled Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo Councils.
