Police Arrest 8 Students, Avert Bloody Cult Clash in Akwa Ibom
Police operatives in Akwa Ibom State arrested eight students on Friday and prevented a potentially bloody cult clash between students from two secondary schools in the Uyo metropolis. The clash occurred between students from Ewet Technical College (ETC), Nwaniba Road, and Christian Secondary School (CSS), Ibiono Street.
An eyewitness, Ufot Bassey, told LEADERSHIP that the confrontation was an attempted reprisal by students from ETC, following an earlier attack by students from CSS. The clash occurred just after school hours, around 2 p.m., when the leaders of the cult groups gathered their members for a violent confrontation at the Traffic Light area of the Uyo-Oron Road.
The situation, which could have escalated, was contained when police officers intervened. The police used tear gas to disperse the students, who were armed with bottles, knives, stones, and clubs. Despite the intervention, four students were injured, while five others collapsed after inhaling the tear gas.
A quick response from the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ubong Umoh, who was accompanied by emergency medical personnel from the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Services and Ambulance Service (AKISEMSAS), helped to revive the affected students at the hospital.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Akwa Ibom Command, DSP Timfon John, confirmed the incident, noting that eight students were arrested. Four others who sustained various degrees of injury were treated and discharged.
The PPRO added that investigations were ongoing to determine the causes of the clash, both immediate and long-term. “There was a clash between the two schools, four suspects were wounded as a result of the clash, and were taken to the hospital, treated, and discharged. However, eight suspects who were arrested have been released to their parents on bail. Investigation is ongoing,” she said.
