Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
By Patrick Antia
The Executive Chairman of Itu Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Etetim Onuk has appealed to the Police in Akwa Ibom State to double efforts towards ensuring that criminal act does not thrive, this he said would avert painful losses.
He made the plea on Thursday at the Local Government Secretariat, Mbak Atai during a courtesy call on him by the Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner, CP Andrew Amiengheme. Onuk commended CP Amiengheme for the numerous achievements and breakthroughs made by the State Police Command under his watch however, appealed to him to use his good offices to weed out criminals from the Local Government. He particularly appealed for urgent intervention in Oku Iboku, Ayadehe and Mbiabo Clans and its environs who continually suffer multiple loss of lives and properties in a perennial violent communal conflict that has crippled commercial activities in the erstwhile bustling fishing community.
Similarly, the Council helmsman appealed for increased surveillance and manhunt for hoodlums residing or operating around Urua Ekpa, Ntak Inyang, Mbak 3 and Nasarawa axis, as the recent surge in criminal activity in those areas could lead to greater consequences if not checked. He said Itu Local Government Area will continue to support and collaborate with the Police and other law enforcement agencies in the sustained campaign to rid the society of crimes and anti-social behaviours.
The Council Chairman emphatically lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for his contributions toward crime-fighting in the State. He also commended the Area Commander of Itu/Ibiono Area Command, ACP Sylvester Edogbanya, the Divisional Police Officers of “D” and Itu Divisions as well as other policemen and security operatives serving in Itu Local Government for their efforts towards making Itu Safer.
In his remark, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Andrew Amiengheme who is on a tour of Police Divisions under his command said he intends to use the opportunity to reinforce cooperation between Local Government Councils, Traditional Rulers and others to enhance the implementation of an effective security action plan that would make the society safer.
CP Amiengheme who said the State Command will not tolerate any form of criminal acts; including cultism, stated that the Command will continue to carry out their core mandate of protecting lives and properties, as well as the arrest and prosecution of those found culpable. He tasked citizens to report suspicious persons or activities in their neighbourhood to security agencies and share intelligence information to further hasten detection and neutralization of threats.
Others who attended the event in Itu Local Government Council include the Vice Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Emem Ekpanya; Council Secretary, Mr. Enefiok Udoh; Head of Local Government Service, Itu Local Government Area, Mrs. Imekan Asanga; Director of Finance, Mrs. Joana NseAbasi Akpan; Deputy Commissioner Operations Akwa Ibom State Police Command, DCP Abdulmajid Daura; Area Commander, Itu/Ibiono Area Command, ACP Sylvester Edogbanya, Honourable Councilors, Supervisors and Special Adviser.
