A suspected cult group, Iceland, have allegedly kidnapped the youth leader of Udianga Enem community in the Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Itoro Inuaowo.
A security guard, who remained anonymous told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that the cult members arrived in Inuaowo’s compound on three motorcycles around 6am and whisked him away at gunpoint.
The cult members, popularly called The Red, were out to avenge the death of their leader, Akaniyene Jumbo (Iso Akpafid), who was surprised and killed by the military in January.
A guard told the correspondent that the youth leader was raising funds for security in the community when he was abducted.
Angry youths in the area a mass protesting against the killing of members of the community by the hoodlums.
They accused the LGA Chairman, Mr. Udeme Eduo, of failing in his responsibility to protect lives and property of those who voted for him.
One Effiok Essien, who is at the internally displaced persons camp at Iwukem, said, “We are living in exile in Iwukem because there are standby police station and mobile police base here. The LG Chairman, Mr. Udeme Eduo, has not done anything to protect our lives and property.”
Another resident, Anietie Umanah, said, “Our village has been without a leader since last year because the cult members threatened to kill the village head. The man fled his throne and started sleeping in churches with his family members.
“This is farming season; we cannot plant anything because our farms are not safe. All the things we planted last season, including corn, yam, cassava, palm oil and other farm produce, have been taken over by these gunmen.”
Odiko Ogbeche the state Police Public Relations Officer, blamed the locals for not volunteering information and reporting crimes in their communities to law enforcement agents.