Essien Udim upbeats as Council Chairman, Police Commissioner collaborate for peace
Political class, royal fathers, youths across Essien Udim, Tuesday, converged on the Local Government Council Secretariat Afaha Ikot Ebak for a Town Hall Meeting with the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Andrew Amiengheme.
The meeting was part of the Police Commissioner’s familiarization tour to local government areas in Akwa Ibom State.
In his welcome address, the Essien Udim Council Chairman, Mr Anthony Luke thanked the Commissioner of Police and his men for their selfless and patriotic sacrifice tin restoring peace and normalcy to a part of the area which had witnessed security breaches recently.
The Chairman who expressed joy for the return of peace to Essien Udim also expressed sadness on the loss of gallant police men who lost their lives during the crisis.
According to the Chairman: “We are proud of the gallantry of the Nigerian Police Force led by the able police Commissioner, CP Andrew Amiengheme for ensuring that hoodlums and were flushed out of Essien Udim and peace and sanity restored. We condole with Commissioner and the entire police force for the loss of their men and resources in the cause of the battle in our area.”
The Chairman also commended the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel for standing by the council and providing the necessary support to ensure the return of peace in the area and the displaced persons find succour in their travails.
“We are equally grateful to the Bishop of Ikot Ekpene Catholic Diocese, Dr Camillus R. Umoh and the entire Catholic Community for accommodating the displaced persons and the Community for providing succour for them during the crisis.
“We are not forgetting Essien Udim people, the elders and youths who stood by us to ensure that we get our area back.
“Today, I’m proud to announce to you that peace is gradually returning to part of the local government affected by the crisis,” he noted.
The Council boss pledged the continuous support of the Local Government Council and people of Essien Udim to the Nigeria Police to succeed in crime fighting while stressing the council’s zero tolerance to crime.
In his remarks, the State Police Commissioner, CP Amiengheme Andrew who condemned the recent attack on policemen and other securiry facilities in the area and other parts of the state noted that the force has lost about 26 gallant officers and resources during the crisis.
He called on youths to desist from violence and crime and explore more civilized ways to expressed their grievances, adding that taking arms against security agencies is not only barbaric but also uncivilized.
The Commissioner solicited support from the people to reconstruct the police station destroyed by the hoodlums in the area.
The police commissioner called for collaboration in crime fighting in the area while noting that the police can not succeed alone without the cooperation of the people with the force.
The Police Chief blamed the high rate in criminality in the society to the collapsed in the family system, stressing that families and communities must pay attention to what is happening around them and should not condone bad behaviour among them that will in turn affect the entire community.
He said that security must be taken seriously by all in the community by ensuring that bad eggs among the people are exposed while soliciting the information from the people to enable police fight crime.
Amiengheme who urged parents to warned their children against cultism which he identified as one the root causes of insecurity in the society revealed that about 350 cult groups operate in Akwa Ibom and are recruiting school children, artisans, farmers and ordinary people in the society into their secret cult.
Speaking, the political leader of the area, Obong Akparawa M. A. Afangideh commended the Police Commissioner for restoring peace to the area and mourned with the police for the loss of their men during the crisis in the area.
Speaking through Barr Martins Umanah, the Centenarian also lauded the Local Government Chairman, Mr Anthony Luke whom he described as “the man for the season”, adding that God made him the Chairman of Essien Udim for a purpose.
Also speaking, the Clan Head of Ukana West, Chief Sylvanus Udo Ekanem who called on the police to investigate the cause of the crisis urged the Commissioner to establish police Check-point in Ikot Akpan Village where the hoodlums had their camped to forestall their return to unleash mayhem on the people.
The event was attended by members of the Local Government Executive and Legislative Councils including the Vice Chairman of Council, Hon Lady Emem Ekarika, the Leader of Legislatiure, Hon Mary R. Charles, the Secretary of Council, Mr Nyom Ataha, the Head of Service, Supervisors, Councillors and administrative staff.
Other distinguished personalities from Essien Udim. Who also attended the event including the Commissioner for Investment, Barr Prince Ukpong Akpabio, the Political Leader of the area, Obong Akparawa Michael Afangideh, member Law Reform Commission, Obong Barr Imo-owo Okpokpo, member, State Secondary Education Board, Barr Martins Umanah, former House Representatives member, Suyiekekere Inokon, PDP State Ex officio member, Obonganwan Mfonobong Udoima, the Chapter Chairman of PDP, Hon Cyril Udoh, Chapter Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon Rose Thompson.
While the Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim, HRM Obong Cosmas Akpan also led members of the Local Government Traditional Rulers Council to the event.
The event featured special prayer of peace and tranquility for Essien Udim and men of the Nigeria Police Force by Rev Emmanuel Inyang and a minute silent observed in honour of the deceased police men who died during the recent crisis in the area.
