By Jeremiah Archibong
The Cross River State Police Commissioner has called on Cross Riverians to fund the Police when the need arises owing to the fact that they are poorly funded.
The Commissioner who was speaking through Supol Beatrice Odey made the passionate appeal while fielding questions from victims of child theft and participants at the security awareness/community meeting on child theft, abuse and kidnapping held on Saturday 12th, September 2015 at Primary Health Center, Anantigha Calabar South organized by Prevent Abuse of Children Today (PACT) Cross River Chapter.
The Commissioner maintained that child theft is an epidemic which must be curbed at all costs, while complaining that “The dismantled police road blocks make it harder for us, neighborhood watch is a good initiative”.
The representative of the Commissioner went on to reveal some tricks of the perpetrators, “some pretend to be police, drug enforcement agents and so on, they will pretend to be searching your house before you know your child would have been stolen”. He insisted that the best way to curb the trend is for all hands to be on deck.
On her part while speaking, the Calabar South LGA Chairman, Majorie Eyo Asuquo said if not for the neighborhood security watch network in Calabar South, some level of sanity wouldn’t have been attained in the dreaded zone.
According to her, plans are in top gear by her office to beef up the watch for the festive period ahead.
Urging her community people to remain strong and keep working together to achieve better heights, she warned that: “If crime is your watch word, we will fetch you out”.
Earlier, the guest speaker at the event, Gabriel Erogor Ngban (JP) said crime is an international phenomenon which has been in existence since the history of mankind.
He said security awareness means knowing what to do at anytime something goes wrong, adding that community policing is the involvement of the public in crime prevention strategies which the State Government should strengthen.
According to him, “Security requires discipline in order to achieve the goal of protection and safety of lives and property, if you are discipline you can protect yourself and others”.
Coordinator of PACT James Ibor, Esq. while speaking said funding has always been the problem of the police. He accused the police authorities of abandoning the police training college in Odukpani LGA which is in very bad and dilapidated condition and wondered how such dingy places can churn out well trained police personnel that can secure life and property.
“Police are given vehicle but no money for fuel, they are ill treated at their training school I don’t want such to police me”, he said, calling on all and sundry to help protect children because they are the future leaders.
As part of the event, some victims of child theft whose children are still missing expressed dissatisfaction with the pace at which the police conducts investigation.
The victims are: Promise Nsa Etim whose son Edet, age 2 years, six months has been missing since April 2015. Sylvester Samuel whose child Divine, 5 years and has been missing since 23rd September 2014.
Sam Sam Moses, whose son Prince, age 2 has been missing since 2nd of June 2015. Monday Mbara, whose son Essien, age 4 has been missing since 15th May 2015. And Rev. Joshua Kwong-Ebito, whose daughter Abigail, age 7, has been missing for over three months now.