It is shown that ions can be accelerated perpendicularly to the magnetic field lines by resonant interactions with lower hybrid modes. Taking into account the effects of the magnetic field inhomogeneity, we demonstrate that the accelerated portion of the ions of ionospheric origin in the suprauroral region of the magnetosphere can evolve into conic distributions and propagate upwards along the field lines. Thus these ions can reach the region where they can be strongly energized along the field lines by the electrostatic shocks. We can argue that the ion distribution resulting from the combination of these accelerated ions with the background ions can depart significantly from a thermal distribution and lead to the excitation of electrostatic ion cyclotron modes.