Akwa Ibom govt to beef up security on waterways

The Akwa Ibom State government has promised to beef up security at the waterways of Issiet Ekim and Adadia communities of the Uruan local council area of the state.

This came at the heels of persistent attacks by sea pirates, which resulted in a loss of lives and property in the area.

Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, who represented the governor, Udom Emmanuel, during an on-the-spot assessment of the lingering crises between the sea pirates and the communities, made the promise over the weekend.

Ekpo, who visited the communities in the company of the police commissioner, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, commiserated with them and assured them of more police presence.

He announced that with two divisional police stations established in the area, and a full-force team would be deployed to patrol the communities, which would further curtail the security threat.

He urged the people to avail security operatives of information, stressing, “government and security agencies cannot function well without adequate information.”

Earlier, Durosinmi said the police command would establish a division in the area while working with the government to ensure that lives and properties are secured by beefing the area with more police presence.

He further stated that the communities have a great role in policing what belongs to them by being their brother’s keeper while also affirming that more police officers will be deployed to the area.

The executive chairman, Uruan local government, Surv. Iniobong Ekpenyong expressed gratitude to Governor Udom Emmanuel for the show of love and concern towards the people of Uruan, while also reassuring that government prioritizes the welfare of the citizens and will tackle the situation accordingly.

In their separate remarks, victims from Adadia, Mr Simeon Joshua, Eda Okon Inyang, and stakeholders from Issiet Ekim, Barr. Favour Okokon, Mr. Essien Etim and the village head all pleaded that government should come to their aid as the insecurity situation has made the sufferings in the community unbearable for them. They also urged the government to station security personnel at the waterways to reduce the threats.