Ibeno Attack: Grand coverup Of Perpetrators By Police – IYC Leader Alleges
By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
The Ijaw Youth Council has condemned the statement by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command that, Sunday February 9, 2025 night raid; killings and destruction of houses allegedly by Esit Eket and Eket neighbours at Inua Eyet Ikot community in Ibeno Local Government Area of the State was cult rivalry.
The IYC in a statement by its Chairman, Ibeno Local Government Chapter, Captain Emmanuel Okpolo expressed regrets on the position by the police, warning of heavy reprisal that would be more devastating, if the mastermind, Ekid People’s Union led by Dr. Samuel Udonsak continues to fight proxy wars by using Eket and Esit Eket collaborators to push them to the wall.
It would be recalled that, after the incident previous Sunday night, Akwa Ibom Police Command on Monday February 10, 2025 in a Press Release issued by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John titled, “Police Uncover Cult Clash Link in Ibeno Attack, Intensify Manhunt”, which was made available to the media read in parts that, “the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has intensified efforts to bring those responsible for the attack on residents of Inua Eyet Ikot Phase 2, Ibeno Local Government Area, to justice.
“At about 2:45 a.m. on Monday, 10th February 2025, the Command received a distress call about an attack in the community. Operatives were immediately mobilized to the scene, but the assailants had already fled. Preliminary investigations revealed that two buildings were set ablaze, while one man (name withheld) sustained gunshot wounds on his right leg and left shoulder. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he is currently receiving medical attention.
“Following a fact-finding visit to the scene by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Adamu Mohammed Bello, fresh intelligence has linked the attack to a cult clash. Further details gathered from a man (name withheld) indicate that the violence erupted when a suspected cult leader, one Iraq ‘m’, led his gang to attack their rivals at a Motel (name witheld), where they were lodging. During the incident, four rooms were torched, and two motorcycles were burnt”, the statement added.
IYC described the situation as worrisome, disheartening, disconcerting and annoying to see the press release from Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John to say that, the wanton destruction of lives and properties was a cult cash and challenged the PPRO to make known the identities of those criminals behind the attack.
“It’s on record that during the attack, neither Police nor any security operatives responded to distress calls by victims. This eye witness report totally negate part of the press release by the state Police spokesperson linking the attack to cultism. We consider such release to be false, unacceptable, unprofessional and a conspiracy against the Ibeno people.
“To further prove our stance, on Tuesday February 11, a day after the attack, Policemen on stop – and – search operation at Ibeno/Edor junction close to Inua Eyet Ikot 2, scene of the latest attack arrested a six man gang with firearms.”
Upon interrogation, he explained that the suspects had no proper means of identification, but were handed over to the new Ibeno Divisional Police Officer (DPO), DSP Ekpoudom, alledging that they were all subsequently released.
According to IYC, ‘We, by this release challenge DSP Timfon John, who is supposed to act as a thorough professional, to publish the names of the so called Cult groups, the possible cause of the clash, and the members of the purported cult groups who carried out the attack in Ibeno, failing which we would consider the press release to be; an utter falsehood, desperate, frantic, unacceptable and unprofessional way of handling a matter of that nature”.
