Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria: Gunmen storm church, kill pastor, 4 members

Masked gunmen, in the early hours of Sunday, February 18, 2024, stormed a prayer house operated by members of African Apostolic Church, Ikot Oto, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area in Nigeria’s Southern State of Akwa Ibom.

The marauding gunmen killed the pastor, a certain Monday Udom, the church’s council prophet, Anietie Sunday, and a presiding elder, Anietie Nelson Asuquo.

Two unnamed members of the church also lost their lives in the process.

When Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) visited the community in Ikot Ekpene on Monday, it was barricaded by police officers.

The officers claimed that they were acting to prevent further bloodletting or further breakdown of law and order.

DDM correspondent was also forcefully prevented by the police from taking picture of their van which was used in blocking the road leading to the community.

An indigene of the Ikot Ekpene community, who craved anonymity, hinted that the attack was probably as a result of the slain church leader’s strong stand against gangs operating in the area.

“The pastor was always against them (the gunmen); maybe they are the ones behind the attack.

“Such a thing (mass murder) has never happened in this community,” she said.

The Pastor, until his unfortunate demise is reported to have served for about two and half years in the African Apostolic Church, Ikot Oto.

To curb crime in the area, there is 6:00 pm to 7:00 am curfew on movement of motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke) in Ikot Ekpene.

What do you know about Ikot Ekpene?

Ikot Ekpene, also known as The Raffia City, is the political and cultural capital of the Annang ethnic group in Nigeria.

It was the first experimental Local Government (County) in British West Africa.

The Nigeria Police is yet to issue an official statement of the mass murder in Ikot Ekpene.

The Police Command Public Relations Officer in the state could not also respond when contacted as his phone rang without response.