Akpabio Clamps Down On Kidnapping (Posted: February 2, 2010)

By Aniekan Umanah
Hon. Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information & Social Re-Orientation

...suspends three traditional rulers

In enforcement of the provisions of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009, Governor Godswill Akpabio has approved the suspension of three traditional rulers, in whose domains kidnap victims were held.

The suspended traditional rulers are to lose their stools for a period of six months in the first instance.

They affected chiefs are Joseph Samuel Udo of Ikot Otong Nsit in Nsit Ibom local government, Christianus Jackson Ekpedeme of Ikot Esenam in Oruk Anam and Asuquo Sunday Udokoro-Ntuen of Oboetim Ikot Ekong in Nsit Ibom.

A government official statement released by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah said the suspension of the village heads by the state Governor, was in accordance with the provisions of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009.

Mr. Umanah said that the Governor Akpabio relying on Section 8 of the Law handed down the suspension order as an indication of his Government�s zero tolerance on kidnapping.

The incidence at Ikot Otong Nsit is said to have occurred when an expatriate Mustag Ahmad was kidnapped and kept at the premises of late Aniefiok Attah, while on July 22, 2009 one Miss Edikan Udoh was kidnapped and kept at the premises of a certain Odudu Emmanuel Uko at Ikot Esenam in Oruk Anam local government.

The third village Oboetim Ikot Ekong in Nsit Ibom became a den of a sort as several notable persons at various dates were kidnapped and harboured at the house of one Joseph Brown Ekwere. The victims incuded Chief Nelson Effiong a former Speaker in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Nse Ntuen, Executive Chairman of Essien Udim, Mrs. Alloysius Etok, Mr. Ita Oyong and Mr. John Akpan.

The traditional rulers were suspended for their inability to check the criminal activities in their domains.

Accordingly all property used for the various nefarious activities have also been confiscated by the government as provided in the anti-kidnapping law.