The curfew in Akpabuyo/Bakassi LGAs

he dusk to dawn curfew imposed on Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas of Cross River State by the government is a welcome development.

The two LGAs have been in the news for some time now for the wrong reasons of kidnapping, cult related clashes and banditry.  At a point, the situation became unbearable as these agents of darkness took it upon themselves to flaunt their devilish weapons of destruction at burial and traditional wedding ceremonies, as if they are above the law.

As residents prepare budgets for either burial or wedding ceremonies, one of the subheads must clearly indicate provision made specifically for these “lords of the manor” or else hell would be let lose when the ceremony is in top gear, and the guests would scamper for safety.

From reports available to this newspaper, the psychological boost that falsely promotes the larger-than-life posture of these emergency kingpins of Armageddon is the wrong notion attached to the alleged efficacy of traditional bullet proof concoction that they patronise.

The nightmarish experiences often narrated by residents of the area invoke instant goose pimples and has led to so many helpless families relocating to Calabar to squat with relatives and friends, just to escape the hawkish claws of these agents from the pits of hell.

Indeed, the policy to an extent, would help to checkmate the incessant hurricane wind of insecurity that has been blowing across the once peaceful suburb, that was in the past, an instant attraction for those who wanted to stay off the hackle and bustle of city life.

However, the Public Service Announcement released by the secretary to the state government Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, to inform the public of the state government action in that regard, did not specify how security agencies, who would be on the prowl in search of offenders, should handle those on essential duties like health workers, journalist, PHED Maintenance Staff, and Fire Service personnel.

It is imperative to ask because those on essential duties need to be also protected from the hands of these miscreants. They also need to be very careful as they go about their lawful duties. Again, it is one thing to issue a dusk-to-dawn to curb the instant menace of the hoodlums trying to disrupt the peace of the communities. The government needs to go a step further to identify the causes of these unending insecurity within these two local government areas.

They should also track down the key leaders of these gangs and all those behind the dastardly acts to serve as a deterrent to others. The idea of threatening those behind the crisis in the above-mentioned communities with kid gloves is condemnable.

Now is the auspicious time for Governor Otu-led administration to confront insecurity not only in the two LGAs, but across the state headlong and bring to book those culpable. No business thrives in an insecure environment rather insecurity scares away investors and subsequently destroys the economics of that particular society no matter how well intentioned.

This paper suggests a comprehensive approach to tackling the issue of insecurity including kidnapping, gangsterism, cultism, robbery and banditry. And some of the ways to achieve this is by organising a stake holders forum on security, reviewing past security policies, addressing community policing and reviving and reviewing modus operandi of Operation Akpakwu.