Etim Ekpimah
A student of West Itam Secondary School, David Joshua Okon has stabbed one Solomon Bassey of the same school in a cult related SS2 and SS3 fight to death.
The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Amiengheme Andrew, decried the level of moral decadence in some schools and society and called on parents to inculcate family values on their children, warning that henceforth, the Proscription Order of the state government would be enforced to the letter.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Odiko MacDon and forwarded to journalists on Tuesday.
“One David Joshua Okon, a student of West Itam Secondary School who stabbed and killed one Solomon Bassey, of the same School in a cult related SS2 and SS3 fight has been arrested.
“The Commissioner of Police, while decrying the level of moral decadence in some schools and society called on Parents to inculcate family values on their children, warning that henceforth, the Proscription Order of the State Government would be enforced to the later,” he said.
McDon added that 54 suspected cultists were also arrested following the disturbing reports of cult clashes in different parts of the state.
According to him, 31 suspected cultists were arrested from different areas of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, which are Obot Idim, Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan, Nung Udoe, and Ikot Odongo. He added that three suspected cultists were killed in the various clashes.
He stated that 16 suspected cultists were arrested from Oruk Anam and seven from Etinan local government areas of the state.
“Following the disturbing report of cult clash in Obot Idim, Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan, Nung Udoe and Ikot Odongo, in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, which led to the death of three suspected cultists, the Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State, CP Amiengheme Andrew deployed operatives of Ibesikpo Division and Anti-Cultism Unit to restore law and order.
“A total of 31 were arrested, while the operation to fish out the remaining culprits is still ongoing, sanity has since been restored to Ibesikpo Asutan and its environs.
“In similar vein, 16 suspected cultists have been arrested in Oruk Anam Local Government Area in connection with the cult disturbances in Inen Clan. Suspects have confessed and made useful statements pertaining to their involvements in the killings and disruption of economic activities in the area.
“On the other hand, seven suspected cultists have also been arrested in Etinan Local Government Area. While normalcy has been restored to the area, intensive patrol is still ongoing,” MacDon said.
According to him, while further warning those involved in cultism in the state to renounce it, the CP urged members of the public to go about their lawful businesses and give timely information to the police and other security agencies to curb the menace.