The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the State Government to urgently constitute a Judiciary Panel of inquiry made up of seasoned Crossivarians to establish the remote and immediate cause of the crisis that has led to the loss of lives and properties in Odukpani Local Government Area with a bid to finding lasting solution.
The resolution was reached at the Plenary of the State House of Assembly following a motion by Hon. Bassey Akiba, member representing Odukpani State Constituency.
The resolution called on the State Security Adviser to urgently constitute a joint security task force to patrol the areas in Odukpani where the crisis is going on to safeguard and protect further loss of lives and properties of the people.
It further directed that the Chiefs, Community leaders, youth leaders, appointees of Government and heads of security agencies should be invited to meet with the House on Monday 17th October, 201 at 10 am.
The State Emergency Management Agency SEMA was also to urgently avail displaced persons in the area with necessary assistance to ameliorate.
Contributing earlier to the motion, the Deputy Speaker and member representing Calabar South State Constituency, Rt. Hon Joseph Bassey, said the House needs to urgently meet with security agencies in the State to restore peace in the area pointing out that Odukpani is the main gateway into the State Capital.
The Deputy Speaker said he was pained and sad at the level of violence going on in the State, particularly, Calabar South where cultism thrives, denoting that “every cultists is a potential kidnapper and armed robber”.
Bassey opined that security agencies are yet to live up to their responsibilities even when they have been empowered by the passage into law of the anti kidnapping law and home land security law.
Rt. Hon Ogana Lukpata, member representing Yala II, Rt. Hon. Etang Williams, representing Yakurr and Hon. Christian Agbor decried the crisis situation in their constituencies where lives and properties are being threatened.
