The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights CDHR condemns, in strong terms, the unprovoked and callous attacks on security assets and personnel alleged to be perpetrated by unknown gun men.
These unbridled attacks are alien to the people of Akwa Ibom State and a total aberration to the principle of law and order of the present administration in the State.
While briefing the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, who was on a condolence visit to families of slain officers and the police over the loss, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Amienghene Andrew, disclosed that 21 officers have been lost due to gun attacks in the State, while eleven vehicles, and firearms have been lost in the various attacks.
The slain officers, we believe, enrolled into the Police Force with the noble desire to protect the lives and properties of the people but for them to be slain in the course of this patriotic duty is unacceptable and should be condemned by all.
While CDHR commiserates with the commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr Amienghene Andrew, over the loss of his men, we applaud the Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel for his kind gesture of visiting and giving N60 million to families of the slain officers.
We hereby call on the Governor to immediately engage all village heads and youths of each communities towards taking strategic steps and collaborate with security agencies to build a more cohesive, formidable and coordinated security architecture for the seemingly intractable security challenges ahead.
Invariably, our security personnel are not enough to police our communities. We must therefore rise up and display commensurate capacity to stem the tide of insecurity posed by this usual times we have found ourselves in.
The protection of lives and properties is the primary responsibility of Government and Security agencies, but it is rather unfortunate that these personnel are being killed. Who then will protect the people? This portends a dangerous trend that must be quickly nibbed in the bud, before it escalates and the citizens are left with no choice but to take laws into their hands in self defence and preservation due to the criminality that may arise.
A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
Ernest Udoh – Robert, Publicity Secretary,
CDHR Akwa Ibom State Branch.
