Anger In C’River Over Rising Insecurity
3 min read
Chiemeka ADINDU, Calabar
Stakeholders in Cross River State have advised Governor Ben Ayade to be proactive in dealing with the rising level of insecurity in the state, while
The advice is coming as the past few days have witnessed incessant kidnapping and armed robbery in the state. Residents have also raised the alarm concerning the situation.
The state government had inaugurated the Operation Skolombo and other measures, yet the situation has continued to fester.
Speaking with TNN in a telephone conversation, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Calabar branch, Dr. Edor J. Edor decried that most of his colleagues have been victims of kidnapping on several occasions.
“It is very unfortunate. One of our colleagues in the University of Calabar branch of ASUU, Dr. David Ugwu was kidnapped since the 14th of February this year and up till now nothing has happened.
“We have petitioned the Anti Kidnapping unit of the Police, the state commissioner of Police, the governor of Cross River state and we are not getting results since 14th of February. We are saying; if he is dead let us have the carcass.
“The perpetrators of this heinous crime against our member have not been arrested, our colleague has not been seen and we don’t have any information. The security situation is actually affecting everybody”, Edor narrated. He urged the state government to be more proactive as things are now becoming worrisome security wise.
Meanwhile, President of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the state, Mr Ugoji Nwabueze says the issue of insecurity is not just a challenge that is peculiar to Cross River but a national challenge. He said, “Government at all levels is trying to contain insecurity and it is even worse in the Northern part of the country. They have worse situations there than we have here.
We only have kidnapping and for the state here, kidnapping has become quite notorious and the government itself has come to the realization that the situation is actually straining our economy.
“Basically, the government is doing their best and is on alert. So, for me, their days are numbered and very soon the state will turn back to be one of the safest places in Nigeria. So we want the government to sustain the tempo because Cross River state is a tourist center and if there is insecurity, investors will not come and it will also affect the carnival.”
On his part, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Cross River state branch, Comrade Ben Ukpepi who was once a victim of kidnapping said that Cross River state should not be an exception when it comes to insecurity as the entire country is affected. “As a labour center, we frown at the activities of traders in the market by shutting down the markets. Well, this kidnapping thing is a serious issue, as you know, I have equally been kidnapped.
“I have the power to shutdown the state workforce because I was kidnapped but I never did that because I know that insecurity has eaten up the entire country. Security is everybody’s business. You and I can equally help the government. I must be objective; we must help the government to calm down the security threat. There is no week you don’t hear of stealing or kidnapping so it’s a threat to everyone”.
