Police Rescue Suspected Ritualist From Lynching In Akwa Ibom

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on anti-riot operation rescued a suspected witch doctor at the verge of being lynched by angry mob over allegation that he was behind series of ritual killings Itak communities in Ikono local government area of the state.

LEADERSHIP gathered from the local residents that following incessant cases of mysterious deaths without any traceable causes, angry youths of the area stormed the shrine of the man, identified as Michael Edet Effa, where they recovered some incriminating items that informed the outrage.

“We have had series of untimely deaths including young people that were sometimes very shocking to the entire community.

“After painstaking findings, we had strong suspicion that this Juju man that came and rented a place for his ritual activities in our community, Michael Edet Effa, was behind the mystery deaths of our people.

“And true to our suspicion, when we broke into his shrine, we discovered all the names of the people that died in our community tied to different charms.

“At that point, we had no option than to drag him to Itak Junction to also pass the same judgement on him, but the police came and stopped us.

“We will follow it up with the Police to ensure justice is done,” one of the community youths, who declined to disclose name told our correspondent.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Timfon John said the suspect has been rescued and was currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation and subsequent prosecution.

ASP John also dismissed earlier insinuation that the outrage leading to some people sustaining injuries was caused by the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest, explaining that the pandemonium was due to an attempted mob action by the youths against the suspect.

“The Command wishes to state that, Akwa Ibom State remains peaceful. The incident that was purported to be protest was the arrest of one Michael Edet Effa who was suspected to be a ritualist.

“The villagers threw properties suspected to be charm out of his rented apartment. And while doing so, names of some individuals who died in the village were seen being tied to different charms.

“Immediately, the Command swung into action and took the suspect to the State Criminal investigation Department (CID), to prevent being lynched,” the pilcid spokesman said.