Anthony Iwuoma
Residents of an Akwa Ibom community were horrified when armed men suspected to be members of the Iceland Confraternity allegedly beheaded a 60-year-old man.
The incident happened in Inen community in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state.
Following the killing of the victim, identified as identified as Udo Adiaha Mfuk, residents of the community have fled to other supposedly safer communities.
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One Aniebiet Friday Ekpu, alias ‘United’, is suspected to have dragged his victim across his compound to a nearby tree where he tied him up before beheading, using a machete, as the deceased’s family members fled.
Speaking to newsmen, Ntiense Noah, who witnessed the gory incident, said the suspect accused the Mfuk of using witchcraft powers to afflict his son with a protracted illness that has resisted prayers and traditional treatments.
Noah narrated: “The gang led by Aniebiet Friday Ekpu, a.k.a “United” moved to the deceased’s compound and dragged him out, tied him to a tree and beheaded him.
“After killing the man, he went to nearby compounds and ransacked houses, seizing their phones and robbed the village council chairman, Mr. Uduak Okon Noah, of his new lady motorcycle that he bought recently.”
The deceased’s son had been sick for over six months, despite all prayers from churches and traditional treatments.
The matter took a weird twist when some youths accused him of using witchcraft powers on his son, who threatened and reported him the village council, urging them to get to the root of the matter.
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“The Elders and the youths of this village have investigated the man using traditional means and he was still being investigated before the “boys” killed him yesterday. Even the sick young man is not dead but the father is killed,” Nsidibe Effiong, another witness disclosed.
“We believe that the suspect is a member of Iceland Confraternity who has terrorised this community last year. Now that he has escaped, we are afraid of what will happen here by the end of the year.”
Punch reported that the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Mcdon, said the Divisional Police Officer in Oruk Anam, had not briefed the state headquarters on the incident.