Residents of Ekori Community are living in fear after a 26-year-old man, Samuel Samson Udo, was gunned down by suspected cultists during a wake-keep ceremony.
Condemning the violence, human rights activist and one of the Yakurr community leaders in Yakurr local government area of Cross River State, Chief Barr. Okoi Obono-Obla, urged security agencies in the state to take urgent action to prevent further violence.
Obla said, “Unless urgent steps are taken by security agencies and stakeholders, the situation could escalate into a full-scale conflict.
“For decades, our people have been denied the right leadership and what has been imposed instead is mediocrity marked by confusion, incompetence and failure.”
The community leader called on responsible leaders, security operatives, and peace-loving citizens to act swiftly to prevent further loss of lives and restore calm to the community.
Just last night, tragedy struck in one of Yakurr’s major population centres when a group of drug-influenced and trigger-happy cultists unleashed terror during a wake-keep ceremony.
“In the attack, the son of the deceased community leader, Mr Sampson Udo, was brutally gunned down, throwing the community into chaos,” Obla maintained.
The human rights activists promised to continue to speak the truth to expose the negative forces fueling societal conflict and strife in the community.
He accused those in places of authority of doing little in the sustenance of peace and orderliness in the local government area.
“Over the years, I have consistently raised alarms about the growing social decay caused by unscrupulous politicians, misguided community leaders, and disoriented youths whose actions continue to undermine growth, development, and peace across our state.
“Unfortunately, rather than addressing these pressing issues, some individuals take my concerns personally.
“They mobilise their army of uninformed social media attackers to hurl insults and abuses at me.
“Let it be known that such crude and cowardly tactics will never silence my voice.”. He said.
In his reaction, the deputy PPRO, Igiri Ewa, confirmed the incident saying, the matter had already been reported to the police and the commissioner of police had ordered a discreet investigation to fish out perpetrators and bring them to book.
