In a bit to term the tides of rising insecurity challenges facing our world and country with Cross River State not left out, the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade KSJi has launched a community security network with Calabar South as a focal point, constituted by the various clan youth leaders as the head of each clan security network.
This was done through the office of the State Security Adviser — South, and the Security Department of Governor’s Office, Calabar in partnership with the Paramount ruler of the Local Government Area, His Royal Highness, Prof. Itam Hogan.
The SSA –South, Mr Ani Esin explained that it became necessary for government to cause stakeholders to be responsible for their communities while the government spearheads and coordinates the fight against these criminal elements in the local government.
Esin said that the Governor was very concerned about the situation of things in the Local Government, particularly as it has to do with security and after due consultation with security experts the Governor sanctioned the meeting between the clan head across all clans, youth leaders and the security department in the state.
He also added that investigations reveal that most clans allow their communities to be used as epicenters of cult activities, robberies, kidnapping and other criminal activities, announcing that an end has come to all of that, hence the formation of a clan security network.
“if all the communities are activated and all the youths given responsibilities in term of taking charge of community security, I think we will do better so don’t be afraid”, Ani emphasized.
He then added that “Government is bringing back sanity to Calabar and your communities from henceforth will no longer be a hideout for criminals”.
Responding, some of the youth leaders aired their frustration and challenges in their collective fight against criminal gangs and their activities in their various communities.
The youth leader of Efut Uwanse clan in his remark said he is ready to support government to fight these monsters of gangsters who have already taken firm grip over their leadership ranks through intimidation and various degrees of threats.
“Once we begin to rebuke their activities in the community, they come up with all sort of threats and actions against us. Sometimes making our homes inhabitable for us to live. We are not quiet because we condone their activities but because we are helpless”, he confessed.
Reacting, the State Security Adviser Central Senatorial District pledged to offer full scale protection to every individual willing and sincere to the course of disarming and bringing to book all the criminal elements within these various communities adding that some of them have already been identified and have become prime target of government in the recently released list of wanted criminals in the state.
Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the Etubom Mkparawa community security network by the security department of the Governor’s office, Calabar and admonishment from the Paramount ruler of Calabar South Local Government Area HRH, Prof. Itam Hogan to the various youth leaders.
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