Tragedy in Ekori: Former Peace Poly SUG President Killed During Father’s Burial Amid Cult Clash

The quiet community of Ekori in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State was thrown into deep mourning after a violent clash between rival cult groups erupted during a wake-keeping ceremony, claiming the life of 26-year-old Samuel Sampson Udo, former Student Union Government (SUG) president of Peace Institute of Management and Technology (Peace Poly), Abak. What should have been a solemn farewell to his late father instead became a horrifying night of bloodshed that ended with both father and son being mourned together.

According to residents, the funeral gathering had been peaceful until the early hours of October 31, 2025, when gunshots shattered the calm. Eyewitnesses reported that rival cult groups stormed the venue in a show of supremacy, firing indiscriminately. In the ensuing chaos, Samuel was hit multiple times while attempting to take cover. A resident, Utum Ofem Ubi, described the scene as a sudden descent into terror—songs and conversations giving way to screams as families fled into their homes.

The attack left several others badly injured, including 29-year-old Miss Choice Ikenger, who remains in critical condition with bullets still lodged in her body. Her mother, Silvia, expressed the family’s anguish as they struggle to keep her alive. Samuel’s relatives are equally traumatized, unable to comprehend the brutality that left his body riddled with bullets. His sister, Miss Affiong Sampson, lamented that he was shot “as if he was an animal,” a memory that has plunged the entire family into profound grief.

This incident adds to a disturbing pattern of cult-related violence plaguing Cross River State. At least nine people have been killed in similar clashes in 2025 alone. From the deadly five-person massacre in Camp 2, Mfamosing, to ongoing confrontations between rival groups like the Vikings and KK confraternities, the state continues to grapple with an epidemic of violent cult activity.

The problem is not new. Over the years, cultism has moved beyond universities into secondary schools and communities. The initiation rites often involve extreme brutality, including beatings, forced killings, and even ritualistic acts. Young men and women are lured in with promises of brotherhood or power, only to become trapped in cycles of violence, retaliation, and trauma.

Higher institutions, including CRUTECH and UNICAL, have not been spared. There have been numerous killings on campuses, even during examination periods. Cases like the 2019 murder of a final-year engineering student in CRUTECH and the assassination of Lecturer Dr. E in 2017 show how deep the problem runs.

Legal and civic voices, including former presidential aide and community leader Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, have repeatedly warned about cult infiltration into political structures and the dangers of unchecked youth violence. He condemned the Ekori attack outright, describing it as an assault carried out by “drug-influenced, trigger-happy cultists.” Community members, fearful of retaliation, are now too terrified to volunteer information to security agencies.

Security authorities, represented by Deputy PPRO Igiri Ewa, have assured that investigations are underway to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, many residents insist that stronger, more proactive action is urgently needed to prevent further bloodshed.

Youth leaders and residents across the state have called for collective responsibility in confronting cultism. They argue that government must enforce stronger security measures, communities must stand united, and parents must steer their children away from destructive influences. Without decisive action, they warn, Cross River risks losing an entire generation to violence, fear, and wasted potential.

The death of Samuel Sampson Udo is not merely a tragic coincidence during a funeral; it is a stark reminder of the relentless grip of cultism across Nigerian communities. Ekori now mourns not just a father and son, but the growing loss of safety, peace, and the promise of its young people. Only a unified effort from government, security agencies, and the community can prevent more families from enduring similar heartbreak.