BY Anietie Akpan
The Cross River State House of Assembly has raised the alarm as militants have laid incessant attacks on communities of Akpabuyo, Bakassi Local Government Areas of the state, killing one and taken over the waterways.
Accordingly the House among other things called for an urgent Military Intervention following a motion of an urgent Public Importance brought before the House by the Member representing Akpabuyo State Constituency, Hon Bassey Bassey Effiong.
These were contained in a press release by the Information Officer of the Assembly, Itam Offor on September 13.
Bassey in the motion stressed; “it has for a long time, been routine invasion and attacks on the coastal communities of Akwa-Esuk Eyamba, Ikong Nkokanie, Esuk Mba communities of Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South through the Qua River.
“The militants have succeeded in stopping the fishermen in these communities from fishing in the river and the farmers from farming in the coastal land.
“There have been frequent cases of seizures of boats, outboard engines, looting of goods from the traders in the community market of Esuk Mba”.
According to the release, the Lawmaker bemoaned a tragic incident which occurred on September 11, 2024, were militants attacked the Esuk Mba/ Akwa-Esuk Eyamba communities killing one villager and injuring several others.
He added that the villagers now live in fear and can no longer go for fishing or farming, expressing fear that the situation may result in some of the youths joining the criminals due to idleness.
Bassey in the release however lauded the State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu’s administration for its efforts at reducing the spate of insecurity in Akpabuyo but regretted that the militants relocated from the town to the creeks from where they terrorise the waterways.
Giving further details on the floor of the House on September 12, Bassey said, “we are not surprised, just four months ago they came in and Kidnaped our Paramount Ruler . They went further to order the youths of the community that nobody should assess the river and the people that usually farm along the river cannot, they have taken over the whole of that place. They seem to be in control of the water.
“The military have done so well on land, today those living in the hinterland can have peace of mind but along the coast they cannot rest”.
Bassey continued, “so I am praying that the state governor as he has done so well with us and we appreciate his effort, the government should mount pressure on the Federal Government which is their sole responsibility to fund the Army, fund the Navy on the waterways because if we are able to have the kind of security presence we have on land and we have such on our rivers, then we can claim that we have total safety in Cross River state”.
Making reference to a state like Rivers that have gunboats, he said Cross River “needs these gunboats to be positioned there because this work is not just mere patrol were you just come and go back. Before leaving your base, the time it will take you to get to the sea, they would have done their work and escape and they have their local informants that will give them information as they are moving .
“So the best thing is to have military gunboats and military house positioned in strategic positions in our waterways. Why is it happening so much like that is because the Cameroonian ganderms have chased them away from the border of Cameroon so what they do is that they come and settle between the Akwa Esuk Eyamba, Esuk Esigihi and Esuk Mba which is between the Cameroon and this side and that is where they are operating from.
“And the Navy knows all these but the problem they are having is that they are over stretched, they don’t have the equipment, they don’t have the necessary logistics..And again Cross River state should not even suffer because we are the only APC state in this South, so if other states should have it why should Cross River state not enjoy from the Federal Government that we really voted for? “
Other Lawmakers in their separate remarks equally lauded the State Governor’s efforts in tackling insecurity in the State.
They emphasised the need for the military to collaborate with the youths of the communities who are conversant with the terrain for more effective operations.
The House presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, therefore resolved that the State Government should urgently check militancy on the waterways of Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Calabar South and Calabar Municipality by urging the Federal Government to provide Military House and Gun Boats on strategic locations of the Qua River.
The House also wants the Federal Government to cause the Nigerian Navy and the Army to position the Military House, Gun Boats at Akwa-Esuk Eyamba of Akpabuyo and Inua- Esighi of Bakassi.
The House further urged the State Government to provide palliatives for the people of the area as they have been cut off from their means of livelihood by the militants who have taken over the waterways.
In his remarks, the Speaker reiterated that the present administration is a very responsive government adding that the House will pay a courtesy call on the governor to discuss the matter.
