Youths from Ikang town in the Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State have appealed to the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, to provide them with speedboats and motorcycles to effectively combat sea pirates and militants disturbing their community.
The community youths made the appeal during a town hall meeting held at the Ikang Town Council Hall on Monday in Bakassi.
This request, according to the Youth Leader, Linus Asukwo-Bassey, aims to help combat sea pirates and other criminal elements troubling riverine and upland communities in Bakassi.
Asukwo-Bassey stated that the lives of youths are now on the line due to the fight which they launched against criminal characters in the area.
He said, “The speed boats and motorcycles will assist us in going after criminal elements hiding in the creeks as well as patrol the upland communities at night to forestall any form of emergency attack.
“Even though our lives seem to be at risk due to the fight against criminality, we are determined to go after those perpetrating atrocities along the waterways and upland communities in the area.”
He cited an instance where youth council leaders had received several calls and text messages threatening them with reprisal attack by ex-militants who wanted to benefit more than twice from the state government’s amnesty programme, without minding if others had benefited from the C’River Youths Demand Speedboats and Motorcycles to Combat Pirates, Militants programme.
He lamented how traders from neighbouring Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, who used to visit Ikang International market every week for trading activities, suddenly stopped, for fear of being kidnapped by self-acclaimed militants who kidnap and seize their goods along the creeks.
The youths cited a particular incident where an ex-militant, apprehended while on an alleged robbery operation, was caught by the community youths and handed over to security agents, and was allowed to escape from police custody.
The youth leader vowed to restrain ex-militants recently granted amnesty by the state government from being reintegrated into the community until they show remorse for their past criminal activities.
He added that their stand is based on findings that some of the ex-militants have returned to the creeks to reposition themselves for the next phase of the amnesty programme.
“We are cautious about reintegrating ex-militants granted amnesty until they show remorse for past criminal activities”, he stated.
However, he appreciated the governor for the amenities he has provided for their community, stating, “We appreciate Governor Bassey Otu for extending electricity and solar energy light to Ikang Town. We appeal for the remodelling and upgrading of Ikang Town market into an international fish market.”
The youths’ leadership further extended their appreciation to their political leaders, who include Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Senator Asukwo Ekpenyong, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr Emmanuel Ironbar and their House of Assembly member, Bassey Asuquo.
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