February 08,(THEWILL) – Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State have decried the attack on their members and the destruction of their properties in Akpabuyo LGA of the state.
The stakeholders made this known in Calabar while reacting to the ongoing destruction in Akpabuyo.
PDP Leader of Akpabuyo, Sir Arthur Jarvis, who read the position of the stakeholders, listed the names of the victims of the attacks.
He said desperate calls have been made to the security agencies, but no single team has been deployed to the area.
“The hoodlums, armed with guns and other weapons, moved on and carried out an all-night attack on the residences and business premises of our party leaders and supporters within Atimbo East and Atimbo West Wards.
“Some of the victims are Amanso Etim, Francis Ekeng the state organising secretary of our party, Francis Effanga, the director general of our Senatorial candidate, the chairman, Atimbo West Ward Effiom Ekpo. Others include Innocent Atsenudiara, Edet Etim (Aka Sunny), Emmanuel Eyo, Saviour Maurice, amongst others.
“We brought these acts of unwarranted attacks and provocation to the authorities by writing to the State Police Commissioner, the AIG, Zone 6 and the DSS.
“But as we speak, nothing has been done to abet these acts of terrorism, no single security team has been deployed to the area.
“These hoodlums are now having an unhindered environment to attack innocent residents of the area”, Sir Jarvis said.
He called on the security agencies to urgently take action to secure lives and properties in the area and also arrest those who have been identified and reported to them as perpetrators of these wicked acts.
He also called on leaders of the APC in the state and Akpabuyo LGA, who are the sponsors of these acts of brigandage to stop forthwith as we prepare for peaceful elections.
On his part, the Senatorial candidate of the party in the South, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, said they expected the police to deploy men, but three days after the first attack, they failed to act.
Also speaking, Hon. Essien Ayi, the member representing Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South Federal Constituency said they have been prevailing on their members against retaliatory attacks.
He, however, warned that there is an extent to which you push someone to the wall and he will not fail to react.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
