A bloody confrontation between rival cult groups in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has left two people dead. The victims, identified as Paul Eyo and Ekpe, lost their lives in the clash that occurred on October 16, 2024.
Paul Eyo, suspected to be a member of the Black Axe cult group, was killed with machete cuts to the head, while Ekpe, the principal of a high school in Oron and alleged member of the Vikings cult group, was gruesomely beheaded.
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, confirmed the killings during a press conference held on Friday at the police headquarters in Ikot Akpan-Abia, Uyo. Commissioner Eribo stated that three suspects – Mfon Etim Uzoma, Robert Effiong Etim, and Malachi Williams Ubokulo – have been arrested in connection with the killings.
The police were alerted to the presence of Paul Eyo’s body at 6:35 am, and later arrested the suspects at a ravine in Abiak Owo Ebughu in Mbo LGA, based on credible intelligence.
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about cult-related violence in Nigeria. Just recently, a similar clash in Ogun State resulted in four deaths and led to the arrest of 11 suspects [1).
The police are working to address the root causes of these conflicts and ensure public safety.
