From Christopher Tom, Uyo

Palpable fears have gripped communities in Mkpat Enin Local Area of Akwa Ibom State following the activities of cultists and kidnappers in the area as 13 communities, including Ikot Abasi Akpan, Ekpuk, Nya Odiong, Ndon Utim, Ndon Eyo, Ikot Essen, Ikot Obio Nso and Ikot Ekpaw were under constant siege.

Other communities seriously hit are Ikot Abia Enin, Minya Ntak, Ibianga and Ekparakwa. According to one of the community members, these places have become “no-go areas” as their business activities are occasionally disrupted. A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that motorists and passersby were dispossessed of their money and phones at roadblocks mounted around Ekpuk, Nya Odiong and Ndon Utim by the hoodlums.“Because of this, people have become so afraid to open their businesses. Like what happened at Ekpuk Junction Market recently, the rampaging cultists attacked business operators in the community and demanded money or shut down the business, while others who survived this terror have their economic woes to also tell.“Students of Akwa Ibom State College of Education at Afaha Nsit are the worst hit. Those coming from Ekparakwa, Ukanafun, etc could no longer use the Ekparakwa-Etinan route for fear of boarding motorcycles ridden by them.”He further alleges that the criminality continues to persist because the local police from Mkpat Enin have compromised with politicians to free them after their arrest.The investigation also revealed that no fewer than 10 persons have lost their lives, while others escaped death by the whiskers in the past two years.They include the pioneer GM of Atlantic FM and veteran broadcast journalist, the late Malachy Ufot from Ikot Abia Enin, who was kidnapped and tortured to death by his abductors after payment of a million Naira ransom.A youth leather from Ikot Abassi Akpan was killed and dumped in a community well last year, while a medical superintendent attached to the Cottage Hospital, Ikot Ekpaw, a former PDP chieftain from Ikot Obio Nso, Chief Cletus Okodi, Catholic Priest at St. Pius X Parish, Ikot Abassi Akpan and fearless cleric, Apostle John Okoriko, suffered kidnapping.In late December 2023, Monsignor (Prof.) Udoidem was alleged to have luckily escaped a kidnapping attempt on Etinan-Ekparakwa Road after visiting his hometown. A couple of weeks ago, the vice principal of Community Secondary School, Nya-Odiong, Mr Eshiet Moses Eshiet, was attacked and dispossessed of his belongings while going to school.Two wanted cultists were said to have been killed by the police at Ikot Abasi Akpan recently, following the kidnapping and killing of a businessman at Ekparakwa a month ago.The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, when contacted about the development, promised to take the matter up with the Commissioner of Police at Ikot Akpan Abia.