Against the incessant kidnappings, mindless killings and robbery incidents in Ukanafun local government, the council chairman has given the hoodlums a one-month quit notice or be ready to face the wrath of government.
Uko Idiong, Ukanafun helmsman who spoke with StraightNews in a telephone interview, Wednesday, said “I have given the hoodlums one month to renounce criminal activities. Between now and ending of March, insecurity in Ukanafun would be a thing of the past.
I have held a meeting with the village and clan heads on this. If it means involving traditional injunction, we will do it to ensure that peace and normalcy return to the area.”
Idiong noted “Government does not shout in wanting to do anything. We are working seriously to curb security infractions in the area. Those hoodlums are stubborn otherwise by now they would have fled the area.
“When they perpetuate crimes, they flee to Okrika in Rivers State and then return to commit more crimes. Unfortunately, when they are arrested lawyers would go and bail them and they continue like that. There is an order by government that any suspect caught with firearms should not be spared.”
He recalled “Since the death of Akaninyene Uko a.k.a Iso Akpafid in January this year till now, the security operatives have made in-roads by arresting many suspects. I appreciate the soldiers who are working hard to stem the tide of insecurity in the area. The government is working. I do not know what they are looking for. Those criminal suspects operating are wasting time. They will soon fade into oblivion.
“Many of them have been calling me, pleading that I should intervene so that the state government could grant them amnesty. I told them that they are not militants and it is only militants, government can grant amnesty not kidnappers, robbery suspects and murderers.
“How can government grant amnesty to persons who paste notice in compounds asking the victims to pay ransom, how can they kidnap innocent persons and how can they kill innocent people and then come for amnesty? They kidnap and collect N50,000, N100,000 and even N500,000 from low income earners like primary school teachers,” the chairman queried.
Commenting on his performance in office, Idiong lamented that “For the past five years there was no electricity supply in Ikot Akpa Nkuk, headquarters of Ukanafun local government area. There was no electricity because transformer broke down and Port Harcourt Holding Company complained that the council owed it N1.8 million bills.
“Yet, this money could be negotiated and PHCD will restore electricity to the area. The transformer could be repaired with N600,000. PHCD gave the council a bill of N400,000 and I have paid it. We have started repairing the transformer and after this I will go and plead with PHHC to restore electricity to the council.
“For the past seven years, there was no electricity in the urban but by next week there will be electricity supply in the area. I have also ordered for the grading of the impassable WASCO Road to Akpan Assiek market and through Ikot Etim still to the market,” he assured.
On what the police command is doing to curb the activities of terrorizing Islanders in Ukanafun, DSP Odiso Macdon, the Police Public Relations Officer of Akwa Ibom Police Command confirmed of some reports bordering on criminality in the area, saying “We cannot say that there are no pockets of criminality in the Ukanafun. For sometime now, Ukanafun has been plagued with crisis.”
Macdon noted “The insecurity has been drastically reduced due to the deployment of massive security personnel to the area. Successes have recorded. The people of Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun are returning home to their homes,” hinting “We are getting result. The high level of criminality has been reduced.”
StraightNews stumbled on a Save-Our-Souls message sent by a concerned Ukanafun son on Whatapps to President Muhammadu Buhari alleging “Many are fleeing their homes in droves in fear for their lives. Kidnappings and senseless killings with impunity are now daily occurrences. Many bereaved children of their fathers are now orphans, and so are many young widows living in the land with daily tormentors.”
According to him, “Law abiding citizens of Idung Nneke, Afaha Obo, Ikot Udombang, Ikot Okusung, Ikot AkpaIdem, Ntokon, Usung Atiat, Ikot Akai, Ntak Afaha, Ikot Ekperikpe, Ikot Essien, all in Ukanfun LGA, Akwa Ibom state, stand shoulder to shoulder, in unity and love, are now desperately appealing to our President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the rescue of our people from the hands of these reckless kidnappers and dreaded cult group called “Islanders” operating and masquerading all the villages unhindered.
“These perpetrators are oppressively carrying out their darying operations in save havens and from the small forests in Ukanafun bordering Ikot Ibekwe and Etim Ekpo. Our people had been kidnapped for the past 10 months and killed with impunity. The effects are streaming closures of many businesses, schools and hospital.
“Poor teachers are kidnapped; ordinary citizens are slaughtered like chickens on a weekly basis. In fear for their lives our people are now taking refuge in Uyo, Abak, Ikot Ekpene and Port Harcourt. Our state government does not seem to know the plight and suffering of our people. The State Police Command deemed overstretched and so, has failed to put a stop to this daily horrendous crime against our people. Our only hope is on our President to rescue these victims of crimes. Please, we are pleading with you Mr President, come and set our people free.”
