There has been a great ease of security tension at the riverine areas of Jebbs, Anantigha, Marina etc, all in Calabar South, residents confess.
Our correspondent who was on ground on a fact finding mission reveal that it is occasioned by the proactive measures of his Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Sir Ben Ayade through the launch of the joint tax force operations under the Operation Akpakwu and the facilitation of the Operation Crocodile Smile to those zones with high tech support.
Residents and visitors around these areas can feel the heavy military presence at these border boundaries, where the 13th Bridge Infantry of the Nigerian Army have set up their temporal barracks.
“As you look over your shoulders, you will see military tents raised all over you. Do you know what that means? That is authority. That is Government. We feel it. The criminals know that Government is now here for their people and they either leave or face the drum”, a resident, Godwin James said pointing our reporter to the military tents built round the Local Government Council.
For the records, the Jebbs–Anantigha water front had over decades become an illegal smuggling point for oil bunkers, drug peddlers, entry and exit route for notorious criminal gangs and an easy corridors for kidnappers to ship out their victims.
The cordoning off of these flashpoints have started yielding great impact.
In the past 72hours, residents confess to have recorded a great insecurity ease after many years of living under tension.
Regardless of a large population who settle at this region, it remained one of the most dreaded zone for any commercial banks and other companies with reputation to think of establishing there.
A village council member, Effiong Asuquo speaking to our correspondent said, “…if we check very well, this our Anantigha might just be the safest place in Nigeria at the moment”