There is no respite yet for restive communities of Akwa Ibom State ravaged by cult war despite launch of the Joint Task Force, The Next Edition investigation has revealed.
Alhaji Zubairu Muazu, the state commissioner of police, on Monday announced a special Joint Task Force (JTF) to restore normalcy to the troubled zones.
The communities include Undiaga Emen, Abak Obong and a host of others where residents including village heads have reportedly deserted.
The affected villagers have taken refuge in safer places including Iwukem, Etim Ekpo, Azumini, Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Uyo, while awaiting police intervention.
However, the introduction of the Joint Task Force by the police on Monday has not assuaged the situation.
Investigation revealed that those sacked as a result of the cult war are yet to return home.
“We are held up here with nothing to do in order to feed our children because our only source of livelihood is farming and we have left our farms, barns, livestock and household properties for the hoodlums to plunder,” a resident of Undianga Enem, Mr. Uko Akpanofiong, has said.
Akpanofiong who spoke from neighboring Iwukem Village where he sought refuge said as soon as normalcy returned he was ready to come back home.
“For now there is no peace in the area. The Joint Task Force put in place by the commissioner of police had a gun battle with the cultists the day they arrived. So we are being careful about it,” he said.
The chairmanship aspirant in the forthcoming election for Etim Ekpo local government, Deacon Unyime Ekanem, corroborating his words said, “For now there is nothing that is going on in the affected places.”
The aspirant who used the occasion to unfold his plans said all the village heads including their subjects were still in their hideouts despite the Joint Task Force (JTF).
The Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, who described the hoodlums as political thugs insisted that the special force would dislodge the criminal elements and ensure sanity returned to the troubled areas.
He called on the local residents to partner with squad by volunteering information that would help the Police in the task of ridding the affected areas of hoodlums and other criminal elements.
