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We’ll not tolerate lawlessness in A’Ibom – CP Azare

We’ll not tolerate lawlessness in A’Ibom – CP Azare

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Baba Mohammed Azare has cautioned youths against lawlessness, saying it will not be tolerated.

Azare stated this on Monday in Uyo when he met youth leaders and chief executive officers of oil companies in the state.

Azare, who stated that recent reports of lawlessness and restiveness among youths in the state necessitated the meeting, cautioned against jungle justice.

“Of recent, the command has been receiving reports of taking laws into their hands by youth. It is important to note that those people were not the youths of different communities. Some of them resort to jungle justice when an incident happens in their area.

“Some take to streets, some block roads across the states. Some do all sorts of things that are inimical to the laws of the land.

“If you have any problems within your communities, please carry your local DPOs along, and discuss the problems with them. They will be able to engage you also in dialogue to be able to resolve the matter that is affecting your community,” he stated.

The CP said the command was committed to the security of energy infrastructure in the state, and charged the youths to report any infractions or disagreements with companies in their domain to the police instead of taking laws into their hands.

He charged heads of companies to listen to the complaints of the youths and communicate effectively with them to resolve any misunderstanding so as to checkmate tension.

“Sometimes you find out that issues will happen between you and some of the companies that are in your own domain. Maybe issues that has to do with the welfare of the community and the rest of it.

“Instead of reporting such issues to the police, you resort to taking laws into your hands by going to block the roads against these companies and by extension affecting other road users. The command will not take it lightly with any group of youth that decide to take laws into their hands by either blocking roads or by resorting to jungle justice.

“Gone were the days when authorities existed and the youth, instead of reporting to authority, will take laws into their hands. We should be magnanimous enough, we should be conscious that the laws of the land are very paramount to the peace and security of Akwa Ibom state,” he explained.

In his response, Security Manager, Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mr Justin Obo blamed the community leaders for excluding the youths in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act which directs oil firms to spend three percent of their operation cost on the oil communities.

Obo advised the youths to study the Act which has taken much of the Corporate Social Responsibility burden from oil companies, adding that the youths are not sufficiently informed about the provisions of the PIA.

He commended the CP for the meeting and assured that going forward, the oil companies would initiate communication avenues to resolve all communal issues.

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