Gunmen invade church in A/Ibom, shoot one
Gunmen in Inen Ikot Esse village, Oruk Anam local government area, Akwa Ibom State, have invaded a church and shot one worshipper.
The victim, Elder Friday Ufenang, said to be the secretary of his Church (name withheld), was shot during the attack. Ufenang is said to be in a critical state in the hospital.
Daily Trust learnt that the gunmen said to be cultists stormed the church premises at about 7:05 am on Sunday and went straight to the vestry where church officers were praying before the commencement of the service.
An eyewitness, Mr Sunday Ibanga, told our correspondent yesterday in Uyo that the victim was accosted and shot on the head.
Ibanga said the shooting spree forced members to scamper for safety while others had to lie on the floor as the assailants continued to shoot. He said the new pastor posted to the church to assume duty that Sunday was the one who evacuated the victim to the hospital for treatment.
At the hospital, the wife of the victim identified as Mrs Iniobong Ufenang said the victim left for church early in the morning to attend to his duties, leaving her and the children at home.
Mrs Ufenang said while preparing to join her husband in the church, she heard screams outside their compound from people who later informed her about the shooting incident.
She said the incident occurred during a negotiation between Debam and Iceland rival cult confraternities to end protracted hostilities that had disrupted normal activities in the community.
“When I heard that my husband has been shot, I rushed to the church to carry the corpse for burial. There, I met some policemen who helped me to carry my husband to the hospital for first aid before the main treatment began.
“Since yesterday (Monday), my husband has been breathing through oxygen here in the emergency ward. We need money to pay for various tests before surgery to remove the bullets in his head.
“One volunteer told me that he had visited the camp of the two cult groups and they all denied their roles in the incident. So, I don’t know where the gunmen came from to shot my husband,” she said.
The Police Public Relations
Officer, SP Odiko Mcdon, confirmed the incident, saying that the perpetrators of the crime would soon be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.
“I can confirm the incident in Inen Ikot Esse, Oruk Anam local government area. It is unfortunate that such incident happened in the church premises. When it happened, it was the police that rushed the victim to hospital for treatment.
“The Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, condemns the dastardly act and he has resolved to stem the tide of cultism in whatever form.
“However, deep investigation is ongoing to ensure that the perpetrators of such dastardly act face the wrath of the law. I assure you that they would be brought to book in no distant time,” Mcdon said.