Insecurity: Essien Udim council chairman condemnes attack on police station
…Says ‘we are not perturbed’
The Chairman, Essien Udim Local Government Council, Mr Anthony Luke, has condemned the attack on Essien Udim Police Division today, 1st March 2021.
The Chairman, who expressed sadness over the incessant attack on security outfits, lauded the gallantry of men of the Police force who repelled the attack.
Hoodlums numbering one hundred, in a well cordinated attack, broke into Essien Udim Divisional Police Station in the early hours of Monday, 1st March, 2021, burnt the offices, unserviceable vehicles and motorcycles at the station.
According to police sources no casualty was recorded during the incident as the police successfully repelled the attackers with more superior gun battle.
This is the third attack on the police Division by unknown gunmen in less than two months.
Criminal elements hade also attacked police and customs check-points, burnt vehicles and killed a police inspector and a customs officer.
But the Essien Udim council chairman described the attack as cowardice, insisting that the council will never be intimidated in the war against criminalities in the area.
The council chairman, who dismissed the insinuations in some quarters that the attacks are politically motivated, noted that similar incidents had happened in the neighbouring state and other parts of the country.
While calling on Essien Udim people to remain calm and go about their legitimate businesses the Council Chairman assured them that the council is working assiduously in collaboration with the State government and security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice soon.
According to him, Essien Udim is a boundary local government which makes it easy for hoodlums to infiltrate the area and commit crime.
“What is happening is not peculiar to Essien Udim but it is unfortunate that this is happening to us despite our efforts in fighting crimes and insecurity in the area.
“But we are not perturbed, we are not going to allow hoodlums take over our local government and state, never.
“I trust the police to do thorough investigation to arrest the criminals and prosecute them accordingly.
“Akwa Ibom is a peaceful state and we will do everything possible as a council to support the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, to maintain peace and stability in the state,” the Chairman remarked.
The former House of Representatives member and Political Leader of Afaha Ward in Essien Udim, Hon Sunyiekekere Inokon, also condemned the attack on Police facilities.
The political leader called on the state government to rise to the challenges of the pravelent security situation in the state before it escalates.
For the Vice Chairman of the Council, Hon (Mrs) Emem Ekarika, there is need for more intelligence gathering to nib the insecurity bedeviling the state and the country at the bud so that “our mothers and children can operate without fear of intimidation”.
Mrs Mary R. Charles, the Leader of Essien Udim Legislative Council, who expressed shock at the incessant attacks on men and facilities of the security agencies in the area, said the legislature will give the Executive Council and the security agencies the necessary support to stamp out insecurity and restore sanity to the area.
The Secretary of Essien Udim Local Government Council, Mr Nyom Atagha, who described the hoodlums as “enemies of the state”, called for collaborative efforts to end insecurity in the state and the nation in general
The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Essien Udim Chapter, Mr Cyril P. Udoh, who expressed sadness over the incident, said something must be done urgently to “unravel the mystery behind such wicked attack”.
