Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has given its committee on internal security two weeks to look into allegations of rape and torture of Ukanafun women especially traders by hoodlums.
The traders are said to have plied their trade on the Ohaobu-Ekefe of Akwa Ibom State to neighbouring Rivers State.
The House committee was also directed to liaise with the Ministry of Internal Security and get updates on its safety and security measures.
A member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Elder Emem Udom who drew the attention of his colleagues on the floor of the house in a motion, called for urgent steps to check the situation.
Udom said while some women are being raped, those who refuse to yield to their criminal demands are being tortured by the hoodlums who appear to have seized the waterways, knowing that there is no security presence anywhere close.
He said the sea route had become dreaded because of the kidnappers and recalled how some school proprietors from Ukanafun were recently kidnapped and had to pay heavily before they were freed.
The Ukanafun lawmaker noted that “the 2017 crises in Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo and parts of Oruk Anam Local Government Areas is still a soothing flame of fire as the people are still living in continual fear due to lack of government commitment to secure the Ohaobu-Ekefe water-ways which is the route through which the hoodlums invade the area for their unwholesome practices.
“I feel quite nostalgic for the place where I grew up. Each time I think of the Ukanafun of our fore-bears, a time when our mothers could walk freely to their farms and return alive, a time when young artisans could deploy their know-how to better their lot and a time when we could sleep with our two eyes closed.
“Further disturbed that a week hardly ever passes in Ukanafun without reports of various forms of insurgency orchestrated by the hoodlums who traverse the Ahoabu-Ekefe water route into Ukanafun,” Udom sought the intervention of the Assembly in getting the state government to deploy security in the area.
Udom added that recently, prominent sons and daughters of Ukanafun: Mr Iniobong Mark, Dr Uwem Akpanukoh and Pst. (Mrs) Victoria Uko were variously taken hostages and they narrowly secured their freedom after huge sums of ransom were paid by their families.
He said that after 47 years of the existence of Ukanafun local government, the people are still living in appalling condition with women and girls mostly affected as they are sexually assaulted, and tortured.
He noted that many of them have become widows thereby assuming greater economic challenges of bringing up children whose fathes had lost their lives to the violent activities of the hoodlums.
Emem Udom, therefore, sought legislative intervention of the House.
Reacting to the motion, the member representing Ikono state Constituency, Rt. Hon. Asuquo Nana Udo, called for consolidation of prayers one and two as they seek the same intervention.
On his part, the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, stressed the need for a Military taskforce to be deployed to the area and not the Nigeria Police stating that the Force lacks the wherewithal to provide security along water ways.
The motion was ably seconded by member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency, Hon. Imo Ita.
