●It’s time to change security tactics – Oron Union’s PG urges AKSG
●Police working hard to secure release of abductors – AKS PPRO
Fear has taken over Oro Nation, as the security situation there worsens with the recent kidnap of two more persons by unidentified daredevil gunmen in the area.
The kidnappers who have turned the Oron waters to their ‘trade’ routes in recent times, were up again, two weeks ago, when in the case, they sauntered into a private health centre, St Patrick Medical Centre, located at Nsie Street, Oron Town, and seized it’s proprietor, Dr Patrick Esu.
Reports say that Esu was kidnapped in broad day light, at the hsopital, located close to the Oron Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force.
WatchmanPost learnt that the kidnappers pretended as patients and after Dr Esu was ready to attend to their make-believe emergency, they pointed a gun at him, dragged him into one of their vehicles and sped off.
The abductors are said to have taken him in their vehicles to Esuk Usung in Udung Uko LGA, where they burnt their vehicles beyond recognition, and jumped into a standby speedboat and made good their escape, through the waters.
Esu, who retired from the state civil service about four years ago, was said to have been abducted six years ago, from his Oron Town home, and was only released after he had to paid heavy ransom.
Similarly, while the former International President of Essu Nlap Oro, Chief Asukwo Enweme, escaped being abducted on Sunday, May 12, 2024, his wife, Nkoyo Asukwo Enweme, was not so lucky.
The kidnappers who invaded his compound, in Eyobiosio of Eyo-Abasia group of villages, around 7pm, were said to have sacked his house in search for him, but when they didn’t see him, they turned to the wife, threw her into their steaming vehicle and whisked her away.
Eye witness said Nkoyo Enweme was taken away in an arsh-colour Toyota Corola on Sunday evening.
Speaking to WatchmanPost on Monday, a youth activist and social crusader, Francis Otioro, said it was time for action from all sections of the state to repel the alarming trend.
Otioro who condemned the situation, said government of Akwa Ibom State, and all stakeholders involved must rise to the occasion in order to mitigate the unpleasant development.
Reacting to the story, the President-General of Oron Union, Sir Esang Nsa Bassey, “condemn in totality the current increase in kidnapping in Oron”, saying the menace was “taking a different dimension in terms of attempt to assassination of persons. Oron Union deeply condemns that act in all parts of Oro Nation and beyond.”
Sir Esang Bassey said, “The security agencies in the past have been trying their best. But we believe that their best is not good enough. I have interacted with them and they are complaining of lack of sufficient logistics to be able to effectively carry out their duties.
“Government has been saying that they are empowering the naval officers to do the job, by giving them gunboats. But I believe that such is not the constitutional responsibility of the Navy.
“They will not leave securing the coastal lines against external aggression. They won’t abandon protecting the oil facilities which they have been mandated to do. This time around they are not only protecting the oil facilities, they are also fighting with rice smugglers.”
The President-General said it was wrong to think that the naval officers would leave their responsibilities at the coastal lines, “to come and fight internal security within Oron or anywhere else.”
The PG called on government to look for alternative ways of resolving it, saying it was impossible to continue doing things the same way and expect a different result.
“Government can empower the police to be able to carry out surveillance activities in the area to tame this menace that is driving away people and investment from Oro Nation. It has even stopped the affected the citizens from having a peaceful night rest.
“Recently, the level of insecurity has left from taking place in late evening to even the day time. We totally condemn it in all its presentations”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, the PPRO, ASP Timfon John, has said the police is aware of the unpleasant development and were working tirelessly to ensure the safe release of the victims.
“We are aware of the matter. The State Police Command is working very hard to ensure the safe release of those under captivity. It is sad that bad elements are still working to disturb the peaceful disposition of Akwa Ibom people.
“The police is not only interested in the safe release of the victims. We are equally working to ensure that this degree of abduction is tamed.”
