Akpan Umoh
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Akwa Ibom has raised the alarm over the spate of insecurity in the state, as it was reported that the Government House Press Centre was burgled recently.
The state chairman of the organisation, Mr Franklin Isong, expressed worries while speaking with journalists in Uyo on Tuesday.
Isong, who expressed shock on the reported burglary in the Government House Press entre, urged the state government to increase its funding to the police in the state to improve on the performance of the agency.
He lamented the rate of insecurity, adding that it has affected businesses and livelihoods in the state.
Isong reported that the police had complained of lack of utility vehicles to fight crime in Akwa Ibom.
He appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel to use the security vote made available to the state to support the command.
“We call on state governments to fund the police as security is the duty of everyone, not only the responsibility of the Federal Government,” he said.
It was gathered that government press centre was invaded by bandits, who allegedly carted away millions of naira from the office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh.
Sources, who visited Government House, Uyo to ascertain the reports said that the burglar gained access into the room where the money was kept by tampering with the locks.
He explained that the money which was brought into the centre in a ‘Ghana must go bag,’ was transferred into the bandits’ bag while the empty ‘Ghana must go’ bag was left on the floor.
Source, who preferred anonymity said that except at the entrance of the gate of the government house, no security camera was located anywhere at the centre, making it impossible to trace the criminals.
She said that this was not the first time an incident of theft occurred at the press centre, as about flat screen televisions were stolen within the centre months ago.
“The money came in since yesterday afternoon, but they refused to share it to the people it was meant for. So, the bandits came in the night and destroyed the keys and gained access to office of the secretary to the CPS,” government house sources said.
However, when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Mr Ekerete Udoh declined comment on the robbery incident but assured that those who were originally meant to be paid with the said money would get their money.
Meanwhile residents of Uyo now live in fear over the state of rising insecurity in the metropolis.
The Uyo village road, behind the Akwa Ibom Government House last week was declared a ‘no go area’ due to the new wave of car snatching that greeted the area.
Many cases of robbery attacks that spiral into other crime are been recorded daily as the once peaceful and safe state for residents has lost its lustre.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the increase in the state could be attributed to low morale within the police force due to the #EndSARS protests.
“Residents who now receive “##EndSARS ” as response whenever they call on the police in distress have resorted to self-help as they take up jungle justice where they can,” he said.
Investigation revealed that criminal activities which are carried out even in daylight, in open places and at supermarkets have been on since the end of #EndSARS protests as many cars have been snatched, and passers-by maimed and dispossessed of valuable items.
In his reaction to ongoing criminal activities in th state, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon assured that the police have been doing its best to get to the root of every issues reported by members of the public.