Armed cultists suspected to be members of the Iceland Confraternity has allegedly beheaded a 60-year-old man identified as Mr Udo Adiaha Mfuk, at Inen community in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, forcing residents to seek refuge in safer areas.
It was gathered the suspect, one Aniebiet Friday Ekpu, alias ‘United’ had murdered the deceased in a brutal manner by dragging across his compound a nearby tree, tied to the tree before cutting off his head with a machete, while the rest of family members fled.
An eyewitness Ntiense Noah told newsmen that the suspect accused the victim of using witchcraft powers to torment his son who has been sick for a long time now as the sickness defied all traditional treatments and prayers. .
“The gang led by Aniebiet Friday Ekpu, a.k.a “United” moved to the deceased’s compound and dragged him out , tied him to a tree and beheaded him ”
“After killing the man, he went to nearby compound and ransacked houses seizing their phones and robbed the village council chairman Mr Uduak Okon Noah of his new lady motorcycle that he bought recently”
It was learnt the son of the deceased had been bed-ridden for over six months, defying all traditional treatments and prayers from Churches before a group of youths accused him of being responsible for the son’s sickness through witchcraft powers.
Another eyewitness Nsidibe Effiong said the deceased having been threatened by youths over the son’s sickness reported himself to the village council pleading with them to investigate him to confirm whether he was responsible for the son’s sickness.
“The Elders and the youths of this village have investigated the man using traditional means and he was still being investigated before the “boys” killed him yesterday. Even the sick young man is not dead but the father is killed.”
“We believe that the suspect is a member of Iceland confraternity who has terrorised this community last year . Now that he has escaped, we are afraid of what will happen here by the end of the year.”
In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer SP Odiko Mcdon said the Divisional Police Officer in Oruk Anam, was yet to report the matter at the state headquarters, promising to bring an update after hearing from the DPO.
“I am not aware of such report. But let me cross-check my records and get back to you. Immediately we received such report the Police would commence investigation”, he assured.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/suspected-cultists-behead-60-year-old-man-in-akwa-ibom-community/
