A Civil Society Organisation COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace Building has lamented that Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom is yet to take proactive steps to address the worsening insecurity situation in the state.
It has also challenged the State Government to show prove of the CTVV Cameras it claimed to have planted at borders across the state.
Its Executive Director, Saviour Akpan who threw the challenge while speaking with newsmen in Uyo on Monday said such technology would have assisted the state in the fight against the current frequent attacks on security formations in the state.
Akpan who is also National Chairman, Network of Police Reform in Nigeria blamed recent frequent attacks on stations and murder of police officers across the state on poor management of security information by the police.
He traced the foundation of the police crisis in Nigeria to accumulated issues by successive governments whom he said failed to listen to civil liberty voices, a situation which he said alienated Nigeria security forces from the civil populace.
“What is happening today in Nigeria did not start today. It is an accumulated lacuna which successive governments in Nigeria have failed to listen to the people’s voices with regards to matters of safety and security in Nigeria.
“Over the years, we have been talking with the security forces, tasking them on how best they could put in place security that can endanger public trust, but that has been seriously neglected and the outcome is what we are having today, where members of the public are witnessing attacks on police formations and killings of Police officers of which I have personally started a campaign on.
“Police officers are fellow citizens and also have a right to life. The attack on them is condemnable bit then Nigeria security apparatus has over the years been alienated from the civil populace.
“It is becoming very difficult for members of the public who might have been part and parcel of the family before the execution of some of these nefarious act to give such information to the police for fear of reprisals because of the existence of poor crime information management within the system. That’s the problem.
“In the case of Akwa Ibom State, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is a liar. He has been lying to the public, telling us he has planted Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in all the border communities. Before I can say the government of Akwa Ibom State has done enough in the area of security, let the governor play the CCTV that he claims to have installed.
“The truth of the matter is that a lot of persons in some places are joking with security. They are making security to be a mere security slogan. The state has not done enough.
“In the case of Ini LGA, I am suggesting that the Police authority should reduce the rank of the DPO because it was very embarrassing for him to have lose guard to that extent to the point of recording such number of casualties. They should reduce his rank so that others will sit up”. He explained.
Also a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Iyanam while reacting to recent attacks on police stations blame the ineffectiveness of security formations in the country on lack of men on ground, adding that the few available policemen have been distributed to politicians.
Iyanam who drummed support for agitation for state police said such would allow the states effectively control their security personnel.
“The Federal system has failed. The police have changed focus to only operations, no more intelligence. Even the DSS should provide intelligence to the police and Army. Intelligence needs funding.” He said
The attacks against security operatives and formations by unknown gunmen started at Ikpe Annang Junction in Essien Udim Local government area, where a police Inspector was set ablaze inside a police Van.
Few weeks after that incident another inspector was traced to his house in Essien Udim LGA and killed by the hoodlums. Two police officers were killed and scores of cows wasted in the latest attack which occurred on Sunday in the same LGA.
Five Police officers and a wife of an officer were early morning of Saturday May 8, 2021 killed by unknown gunmen who attacked the Divisional Police headquarters, Odoro Ikpe in Ini LGA of Akwa Ibom State
On Sunday May 9, 2021,. there was another attack on police station in Ikot Odon Abak local government area, although no causality was recorded , vehicles parked outside and a motorcycle inside were burnt.
In Ika, unknown gunmen on motorcycles killed two police officers attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters and also burnt a Volvo car attached to the division in a failed attempt to burn the station and cart away weapons.
The deceased officers, a woman Lance Corporal, Esther Akpan and a Police Special Constabulary, Isonuyo Paul, were ambushed on their way home by the hoodlums who were armed with Ak-47 rifles
In Ibiaku Ntok Okpo , headquarters of Ikono local government area of the state, two Police Officers were killed and five patrol vehicles burnt down by hoodlums who attacked the area.
With these and many other recent attacks on security formations in the state, many have wondered what has happened to Intelligence information gathering, even as others are expecting the Governor to address the people.
