Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecutions, Okoi Obono-Obla has in a statement published not too long ago on the June 29, 2017 cult related violence in his native Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River Central, named 20 individuals as being behind the violence that unfortunately led to the killing of a young man, Jude Iroegbu Jnr, nephew to the presidential aide.
In the statement published on Facebook, a copy of which has been forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris for investigation, Obla named Item Eno Obla (of Utom, Ijiman Town, Ugep), Sunday Abam (a.k.a OjorKesorokpor) of Aneja, Ijom Town, Ugep and Nta Ofor (aka Obor), as being the ring leaders who murdered his nephew in cold blood. He also listed Ebri Omenka, Era Felix Ibiang, Ikpi Ewa, Otu Ikpi Ewa, Sunday Ojo, Derricko Okoi, Arikpo Okoi Opukor, Cross Belt, Payapaya Obol Yaseni, Eni Offiong, Idebe Etowa, Etowa Etowah, Utum Ejegbe, Ebri Udumo, Ken Senator, Ubi Eno, Eteme Ofem and one Authority, as being the remainder of the suspected killer squad.
Amazingly, Obla also submits that the suspected ring leaders “… serve as Palace Guards in the Obol Lopon’s Palace, Ugep”, the official residence of the local monarch, an allegation palace sources deny, and calls “…on the Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria, Senator Ben Ayade to constitute a highly powered Judicial Commission to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the recent outbreak of cult related violence and killings in Obudu, Ogoja, Ugep and Calabar South with a view of identifying the perpetrators of cult inspired violence and killings in the State.”
