In response to Akwa Ibom Police Command’s directive, more than 100 aggrieved youths from Ukanafun local government area in Akwa Ibom State have surrendered arms and other dangerous weapons to police in readiness for peace.
The command had, in a press release dated Friday, September 21, directed the aggrieved youths of Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun to surrender arms from Saturday, September 22 to Wednesday, September 26 and embrace peace.
For more than three years, most communities of the two local government areas have been embroiled in cult war that degenerated into militancy, resulting in many residents of the affected communities abandoning their homes while others have become Internally Displaced Persons in neighbouring communities and towns.
Many had lost their lives; others lost valuable property including houses and household equipment; others who were kidnapped paid ransom to secure their freedom; some women and girls captured by the militants were abused while public schools are shut down and socio-economic activities are in comatose.
Speaking with Straightnews reporter, Uko Idiong, Ukanafun local government chairman who stated this Wednesday in an interview thanked the youths of the area for surrendering their arms to the police, and also the state government and Akwa Ibom police for devising this strategy to ensure lasting peace to the abandoned communities.
Idiong said since the five-day period has been extended, Friday, September 28 is fixed for the aggrieved youths of Etim Ekpo to surrender their arms and embrace peace.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police is happy with the success of the exercise, and thanked the youths who have surrendered their weapons and are ready to embrace peace.
A press release issued Wednesday by DSP Odiko MacDon, the state Police Public Relations Officer on behalf of the police commissioner stated “To ensure a comprehensive exercise and afford those who are yet to come out the opportunity to do so, the exercise has been extended from Wednesday, September 26 to Friday, September 28, 2018 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.”‘
MacDon enjoined “The command is again calling on the aggrieved youths of the two local government areas of Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun who are yet to lay down their arms and embrace peace to take advantage of this extension to do without delay.
”The place to assemble remains Central School, Ikot Akpa Nkuk, Ukanafun. It is hoped that this gesture will lead to complete reconciliation, rehabilitation and re-integration of the aggrieved youths and pave the way for the government to develop the affected communities.”
