Suspected cultists have murdered one Itoro Umanah, said to be a farmer from the Udianga Enem community in the Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Community sources told our correspondent in Uyo on Tuesday that the killers stormed their victims’ apartment at about 10 pm while they, alongside their wife and three children, were asleep.
Narrating the incident, the widow of the deceased, Mrs Jimmy Itoro, said the assailants, upon entry into their compound, called out her husband.
She said there was a fierce battle between her husband and the suspected cultists who later overpowered and macheted him to death.
Lamenting that she was left with three children, she demanded justice over her husband’s death.
“They came at about 10:00 pm. My husband, who was tired after returning from work, was sleeping on the veranda, resting because of the heat inside. As the assailants arrived, they called my husband.
“My husband shouted and raised the alarm, but no one came to his rescue. After a while, his voice could not be heard again. At that point, I took my children and escaped into the bush behind our backyard.
“In the morning, neighbours arrived to see his dismembered body. I have three children, and the elderly is a final year student in a monotechnic college in Uyo,” she said
The chairman of the village, Lawson Akpanowon, said the incident had been reported to the Divisional Police station at Utu Etim Ekpo, headquarters of Etim Ekpo LGA.
“After securing police consent, we buried the deceased. The police team came to see the dismembered body, and we were asked to work in synergy and do some internal investigations,” the traditional ruler stated.
The state command of the police confirmed the incident, adding that the commissioner of police, Baba Azare, has ordered an aggressive manhunt for the killers.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said, “Investigation into the incident has commenced. I will update you.”
