The Cross River State Government has ordered traditional rulers in Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas of the state to produce kidnapped victims and kidnappers in their domain or face the consequences.
Alfred Mboto, the permanent secretary, Security Services in the Governor’s Office, gave the order on Sunday, April 11, 2021, at the enlarged security meeting between the Government, Service Commanders, Traditional Rulers, and Youths of the two local government areas.
Mboto who lamented the increase in kidnap cases in Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas said abduction could be stopped by the traditional rulers.
The Government noted that the increase in kidnap cases in Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas of the state was the result of the insensitivity of traditional rulers in the areas.
He said the era of keeping quiet by traditional rulers was over pointing out that government will deal with any traditional ruler found to have been protecting kidnappers in their area.
Similarly, Mboto ordered the traditional rulers to produce the Nigeria Labour Congress, Chairman Ben Ukpepi, and Dominic Aqwa Edem, former board member of NDDC who were kidnapped and are still in captivity.
Reacting, the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi LGA, Etim Okon Edet blamed the persistent kidnapping on ceding of the Bakassi territory without compensation plans.
However, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sikiru Akande sued for peace with a warning that anyone established to have gone against the law will bear the consequences.
