2 killed in police, cultists’ shootout in A/Ibom

The Akwa Ibom Police Command has confirmed the death of two persons in a shootout between policemen and some youths suspected to be cultists in the state.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Odiko Macdon, yesterday, confirmed the death of the two persons in Nsit Atai on Saturday during a consultation for the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly seat of the Council Secretary, Mr Nseabasi Udoeyo, with some village heads in Ibedu group of villages that turned bloody. Macdon, who said the youths were cultists, denied that the police were sponsored, stating that the police cannot be used to destroy lives they were supposed to protect.

“Why would police be sponsored to kill the people that the police are responsible to secure their lives and property? That information is not true, that information is false, malicious and intended to demean the image of the police.

“The true situation is that a candidate went for consultation for his political ambition. Certain youths attempted to stop that candidate from carrying out that consultation. First, at the place they normally have such meetings. Then it was moved to the village head’s house.

“Back there, a number of youths moved in there with dangerous weapons and disrupted the process.

“The police were called in and when the police arrived, the youths attacked the people and the policemen also. They came with knives and guns; in fact, a locally made pistol was recovered from them.

“Those people were cultists, involved in criminal act, in arson, vandalism and destruction of lives and property. The house of the village head was vandalised and they burnt three vehicles and the police vehicle is laden with bullets. No policeman was paid to hurt or kill anybody; that information is not true,” he said.