A cult clash has reportedly claimed the lives of two persons in the Udianga Enem community in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

WuzupNigeria gathered that the village head, Chief Josiah Udoekoriko, reportedly fled his palace on Monday over a renewed supremacy battle between suspected members of the Iceland Confraternity and the Debam group.

An unspecified number of lives have been lost and properties destroyed in the past four years due to the intense cult clashes in the Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun LGs, The PUNCH reports.

Governor Udom Emmanuel was forced to grant amnesty to the cult groups for peace to reign in the areas but it appears not to be a lasting solution.

The latest incident occurred Monday when suspected members of Iceland Confraternity, led by one Oto, from Obon Ebot, stormed the Udianga Enem community reportedly to retrieve stolen items seized by Debam confraternity in the nearby community of Obong Ntak.

A community source who pleaded anonymity said the invaders came in to negotiate peacefully with the Debam group led by one Samuel Okonko popularly called ‘Angel Boy’ in order to retrieve the stolen property, but the negotiation broke down.

“Suspected members of the Iceland group came for a truce with the other group, Debam, which is led by Samuel Jessy Okonko, popularly called ‘Angel Boy’ with a view to recovering those properties through peaceful negotiation.

“Unfortunately, there was a disagreement leading to the death of one person while others fled,” the source said, adding that the resurgence of gun violence has forced people to abandone their farms.

“Angel Boy had earlier shot dead one person who identified him during the looting that took place at Obong Ntak Community.

“We could not report the matter to the Police at the Area Command because the Village Head who would have coordinated the process immediately fled his palace,” the source further said.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident assured the community that “full-scale investigation will begin as soon as the Etim Ekpo Area Command gives details.

He, therefore, urged members of the civil society to be law-abiding and report any act of crime in good time for the Police to nib such crises in the bud.