By Ushang Ewa
Residents in Ogoja local government area of northern Cross River State recently took to the streets to protest the upsurge in gangstar related activities and killings.
CrossRiverWatch gathered that the no fewer than 5 persons have lost their lives to Gangstar related killings in the past 6 months in the local government area with Abakpa and Ishibori communities named as flash-points.
A resident, who simply gave his name as Eweh residing in Igoli told CrossRiverWatch that: “The situation is getting worse by the day and it is because the former Chairperson, Rita Ayim due to influence from the so called political elites gave out revenue generation points to their boys who are known cultists (gangstars).
“From the Igoli market to Ishibori market, the markets in Abakpa and Mbube, Ekajuk as well as Emblems and motor park tickets; these are all controlled by agents who are cultists (gangstars) and since Rita left office, the HOLGA (Head of Local Government Administration) has been powerless to stop these as some people feel the others have been allowed to collect these monies for too long.”
The gangstar related killings led to the death of one Dominic Modey which sparked an emotional row on social media and led to a rally against gangstars on Monday which saw hundreds of youths march from a playground in Igoli, through Ishibori to Ndok junction and back chanting songs which warned gangstars to immediately stop their activities.
Mr. Baba Isa, a lawyer who partook in the march took to Facebook to express why the communities had to come together for the march.
“I marched alongside my brothers, my sisters and my friends to protest the rise in cult activities in Cross River State and Ogoja in general and Abakpa in particular which has recently culminated in the cold blooded murder of our brother Dominic Modey,” Mr. Isa wrote.
He continued: “The community has expelled some persons from the land and declared them wanted for murder. The community has also briefed me to petition the Inspector General of Police and heads of other security agencies to commence a man hunt for those on this wanted list and a thorough investigation into the issue to bring them to book.
“Modey cannot just die like a chicken. Justice must be done. Our community must purge itself of this filth. Lift up your voice and join ours, lend a hand, drop a coin, do something to redeem the land before we are all wasted away in the murderous inferno of cultism.
“Tell those who killed Modey that justice is coming for them; tell those whose stock in trade is blood, fear, intimidation, bullying and murder to repent; tell them to repent, for the wrath of God is falling already.
“Ogoja, under God, must prosper!!!”
As at press time, it was unclear whether Mr. Isa had filed the petition.