1001+ Voices Initiative for People Empowerment, a socio-political organization, and increasingly, the authentic voice of Akwa Ibom citizens, has expressed deep concerns at the spate of gruesome murders of innocent citizens perpetrated by deviant individuals and groups within the state.
The group made this known on Thursday in Uyo through a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Uwem-obong Ankak, shortly after an emergency meeting of its principal officers led by the Coordinator, Obong Ide Owodiong-Idemeko.
According to the statement, the group enumerated plausible counter measures that would stem the rising tide of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State, stressing that “scores of government security operatives have also been reportedly killed in the line of duty, with police stations and operational vehicles burnt down in Essien Udim, Obot Akara, Abak, Ikono and Ini LGA’s to mention but a few.”
Some of the measures enumerated by the included “The Akwa Ibom State government should as a matter of urgency seal off all entry and exit points into the State and thoroughly screen all human traffic for unscrupulous elements and inflow of arms and ammunition.”
“The State government should mobilize its entire security architecture to protect the State from these ostensibly choreographed attacks which would go a long way in curbing the menace of insecurity.”
“All perpetrators of these dastardly acts must be apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law, while the hapless victims of these murderous attacks, especially security agents, should be adequately compensated.”
The group further urged Akwa Ibom residents to remain vigilant, as eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, maintaining that “these incidents have created extensive fear and panic among the citizenry; triggering an exodus of ‘Akwa Ibom people’ from their ancestral homes to seek for elusive safety elsewhere. As a matter of fact, in fear of being attacked, some police officers have abandoned their duty posts across the state, while others have responded to the heightened attrition by adorning different camouflages.”
