Darkness, fear, anxiety and shock have descended on the serene community of Midim Nto Udo Village since early this morning, when news filtered out that a retired staff of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation - Mr. Monday Udo Ekanem has been assassinated by suspected members of the dreaded Akwa Marine Cult group in Midim Community, Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

Eye witnesses say that the unfortunate father of 5, ran into an ambush set up by the gang around his house in Nto Udo Village last night at about 9.20pm while returning home. The attackers were said to have pumped several rounds of bullets into Ekanem's chest at the entrance to his compound, killing him instantly before they fled.

This follows series of such unsolved crimes by the same cult group that has been rocking Midim community in the past 7 years. Investigation reveals that the late Ekanem was until his death, Chairman of Midim Community Peace and Reconciliation Committee. He is said to have led efforts to find lasting solution to the havoc wrecked on the community by Akwa Marine - a terror group that has been linked to several other assassinations, robbery and kidnapping. The leader and founder of the group - Honorable Emmanuel Ben Umoh (a former Councillor) is presently standing trial for murder and robbery at the High Court of Ikot Ekpene, while other members have continued to roam free. Midim Community has known no peace since 2011.

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The group came to limelight when they launched a daring daylight kidnap of a prominent indegene of the area (name withheld) in 2011. The victim escaped after 2 days. In 2015, the same group attempted to assassinate 2 other indegenes (names also withheld) who they suspected, could work against their interest. This too was foiled by villagers who rescued the victims just before their slaughter at the village shrine. In 2016, the group killed and roasted 2 boys at Nsong Eto Market Square. the victims' body parts were removed and sold for ritual purposes. Since then, they have conducted several daytime raids in the local market and have robbed hundreds more of citizens of property worth millions on Naira.

The cult group enjoys patronage of several politicians, traditional rulers, religious leader, etc. including a prominent vocal former Governor of Akwa Ibom. Their reach has grown in audacity and bestiality in the past decade. Their activities have severally been reported by the community to the Police, DSS, Army, Presidency, National Assembly, etc. Still, they have continued to create mayhem in Midim Community. Law enforcement agents are completely unwilling to help as they are said to have drawn up an operating hitlist for more assassinations. The community is now a ghost town.

assassins don't just waste bullets. Let's say he was killed by local and untrained village criminals.