Police are smearing my hard earned reputation – Uruan council boss
RE: POLICE PRESS RELEASE WITH REFERENCE NO: AZ:5300/AIS/PPRD/VOL.5/25 DATED 2ND MAY 2021:
My attention has been drawn to the above Press Statement by the State Police Command signed by SP Odiko Macdon (Anipr), Police Public Relations Officer for Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State.
In the Press Statement which centers on the kidnap, rape and brutal murder of one Miss Iniobong Ephraim Umoren, SP McDon stated: “The suspect confessed to have told his Local Government Chairman of his atrocity before escaping to Calabar and was never at any time handed over to the Police by anyone”
Following the Press Statement in reference, I, who had already been distraught by the disconcerting news surrounding the murdered Iniubong Umoren have been further abashed by several media publications and phone calls based on the quoted portion of the Press Statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) which tends to portray me as having concealed such security information and this has been viewed as capable of smearing my hard earned reputation, hence, this statement.
In as much as I do not know the interest intended to be served by the quoted part of the statement credited to the criminal suspect who is incidentally from Uruan Local Government where the ugly incidence is also reported to have taken place, this publication is considered imperative for the purpose of setting the records right to let concerned members of the public to be properly guided as to the extent of my involvement in the processes leading to the arrest of the suspect. I do not also intend to score any political point or join issues with anyone on the already sufficiently depressing, distressing and disheartening situation at hand but hereby state as follows:
I first came to knowledge of what turned out to be very a disturbing development on Friday, 29th April, 2021, when I received a call from one of my kinsmen stating that an elderly man in my community was arrested and detained by the Police on account of a crime allegedly committed by the man’s son who was reportedly wanted by the Police. According to the person who contacted me, he was seeking my intervention to get the Police allow the man who was said to be in a dire medical condition access to his medication, stating that the Police had insisted on detaining the arrestee until the absconded son identified as Uduak Frank Akpan was produced.
As the Chief Security Officer of Uruan Local Government Area, I immediately swung into action for purpose of facilitating the arrest of the suspect and graciously, the effort paid off as the suspect who had earlier hinted that he was at a location in Oron Local Government Area was successfully arrested by the DPO of Uruan following trails facilitated by me and other machinery put in place by the Police.
For the records, it is not true that the suspect made a confession to me of his committing the crime before escaping to Calabar. As matter of fact, when contacted, the suspect who was still denying his role on the trending kidnap/abduction news was persuaded to turn himself in order to clear his name, if his hands were clean as claimed by him. The suspect had no personal physical contact with me prior to his arrest by the DPO of Uruan.
I am deeply saddened by the harrowing incident and hereby condoled with the family and friends of the victim. I urge them to, please, find consolation in the fact that the suspect is in the Police net and I trust that justice will be served and speedily too.
Let me commend the Police for their efforts leading to swift arrest of the suspect while reaffirming my commitment to working with the law enforcement agents to ensure that Uruan LGA is rid of criminals and criminality.
I must also commend, very specially, the Governor of our dear state, His Excellency Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for his strides in repositioning the security architecture of the state leading to more effective and efficient security service delivery. I pledged my unwavering, unfaltering and undiluted loyalty to the people’s Governor as he remains committed to moving the State to enviable height of achievement in all critical aspect of our social-economic and corporate existence as a people.
Thank you.
HON. SURV. INIOBONG EKPENYONG, Mnis
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
URUAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
