By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Despite the show of force in demolition at least ten properties owned by suspected daredevil kidnappers, robbers and gangstars in Cross River by Operation Akpakwu, rival gangs in Akpabuyo Local Government Area struck in day light yesterday leaving residents around the Police College and CROSPIL Estate in suspense.
“Cultists are on rampage around the Police College and CROSPIL estate area of Akpabuyo, looting shops and destroying peoples properties in broad day light,” a resident (name withheld based on security advise) told this Newspaper.
Parents who went to drop their wards at the Nigerian Navy Secondary school near the CROSPIL estate were redirected through another route.
The fight has gone for a week with several feared dead. However, by Sunday evening, Operation Akpakwu had set up shop to forestall further attacks.
Operation Akpakwu is the code name for a special task force of security operatives drawn from the military, paramilitary and the Police, set up by the Cross River State government to tackle violent crimes and kidnapping. It is basically an upgrade from the Homeland Security unit which replaced the Quick Intervention Squad of the Emergency Response Center set up over a decade ago.
And, the task force went on a destruction spree, demolishing buildings in different areas in Calabar last week.
On Monday, January 18, 2021, four houses including a flat and two tein duplexes belonging to suspected kidnappers were demolished at 8 miles while a brothel owned by a suspected child trafficker and sex slave master, was demolished at the flour mill junction along the Murtala Mohammed highway.
On Friday, January 22, 2021 a hotel identified as “Save Side” located at Ikot Omin New Layout off Tinapa Road, Calabar Municipal was levelled by the task force following the arrest of some gangstars.
On Saturday, four more houses said to belong to a suspected gangstar, Ekpri Ntoi, were demolished at Etak Ikot street, 8 Miles, Calabar.
“This is part of the activities of Operation Akpakwu,” Henry Okokon the Security Adviser South to the Governor told journalists.
“When we get intelligence, we process it and take decisive action, it is no longer business as usual as the governor warned that they either leave or rot in jail. The brothel was also brought down because the management of the facility was also harbouring criminals and drug addicts,” Okokon added.
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