Govt. Seeks Co-operation With Nigerian Army To curb Crime

Akwa Ibom State government has pledged its readiness to co-operate with the Nigerian Army in its effort to rid the state of crimes.
Governor Godswill Akpabio made the pledge when the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major-General Sarkin Yarki Bello paid him, a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Uyo.
Chief Akpabio noted “We promise you total cooperation so that you can help us get rid of crimes in the state. the state will give you all the necessary cooperation to provide and augment the logistics that the headquarters will give you to do your work”.
It would have been impossible to have peace in this region if God had not posted you here. My state used to be one of the safest states in Nigeria until recently upsurge in kidnapping from the neighbouring states proliferated to Akwa Ibom state.
One of the problems we have at the moment is bank robbery. Anybody who goes to the bank to withdraw money would be followed, robbed and killed”, he hinted.
As a result, he cited that more than 15 people lost their lives in the last two months, stating “Your men must comb all nooks and crannies of the state. if you are looking for notorious General Togo, he might be in the state perhaps hiding in one of the hotels. They see Akwa Ibom State as a safe state”.

He further attributed the sudden increase in crimes to the activities of some dubious motor cycle operators, explaining “we will take a decision very soon on Okada riders in the state. our neighbouring states had stopped Okada riding, but we didn’t have means of transportation.
If it were a state where railways are working, we would not have had need for Okada riding. As it is now, we will start the restriction of Okada from the Uyo Metropolis so that we will study the situation working with you (security agent) before it will affect other areas”.
The Governor told the GOC that the Federal Government has approved three more army camps in the state located in Ikot Udo, Obot Akara and Ikot Umoessien and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the approvals.
Earlier, Major-General Bello had told the governor that he was in the state on a familiarization tour of the state with his men, assuring that his intension was to get the state rid of kidnapping and other violent crimes.