By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The rising insecurity level in Cross River central has turned it into a theater of war says retired Police Commissioner, Mr. Lawrence Alobi.
Mr. Alobi who is currently the chairman, Cross River Partnership for Peace and Security (CRPPS) stated this during a summit held over the weekend at Ikom located 214 kilometers north of the state capital Calabar, to brainstorm on the way forward to resolving disputes in the senatorial district which has witnessed the most internal and external communal conflicts in the past decade.
He said the loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties did not bode well for the state once regarded as the most peaceful in the country reports THISDAY.
“I served as a police officer maintaining law and order promoting peace and security for 35 years, and it pains my heart how my people, young men are causing mayhem destroying themselves in the name of cultism. Communities that are supposed to live together in peace are fighting each other.
“It is particularly disturbing that Cross River Central senatorial district has gained an unfortunate notoriety as a theatre of war due to communal clashes, cultism and other violent crimes.
“We cannot allow this trend to continue because if this ugly situation is neglected it might snowball into an unimaginable level like we are witnessing today in the North-eastern part of Nigeria,” said Mr. Alobi said who also serves on the board of the ‘Operation Skolombo’ headed by Brigadier General Mannix Nyiam (rtd).
Former Governor Liyel Imoke who spoke at the event warned against the arming of youths during elections which he said has fueled some of the crisis.
He wondered why some youths allowed themselves to be used as tools for perpetrating violence.
“I will just like to say that for the organizers to put this event together means that there must be some concern about the level of peace and security in Cross River State. It is everyone’s responsibility.
“That has been my own experience. The earlier (we) nip each challenge in the bud, the better it is for each and every one of us.
“When I was governor, I was very concerned about young people joining cults and about politicians using these young people or cultists who went in and committed all kinds of crimes and offences in the name of politics sometimes in the name of support for a political party or a politician,” Imoke said.
Also, the chairman, Senate committee on Finance, Senator John Eno said all six local government areas that make up the senatorial district had at least one crisis.
“There is about no local government area in the district that has no communal conflict. We are gathered here because the zone has become a theatre of war, which ought not to be,” Enoh said.
The summit was organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution and the Foundation for Peace and Security Education in collaboration with CRPPS.
Notable amongst attendees was a former General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major Geney Moses Obi (rtd), a former Cross River State Security Adviser, Mr. Bassey Rekpene and Professor Oshita Oshita.
Leave feedback about this