Angry youths from Oro ethnic nationality from five local government areas of Oron Federal Constituency have protested over incessant cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the largely coastal areas of Akwa Ibom State.
Among those that have fallen victims of the hoodlums are the Paramount Ruler of Mbo, Obong Okon Abang; a senior member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. John Esu; wife of Chief Asukwo Eweme, Ulap Okon alias Levile, and a prominent businessman cum politician, Eyo Asuang.
Seizing the opportunity of the ongoing tour of local government areas within the federal constituency by the House of Assembly committee on local governments to assess the scorecards of the caretaker executives as their tenure lapsed on June 7, the protesting youths accosted the lawmakers with their grievances.
They were armed with placards of varying inscriptions, “Our only source of livelihood, maritime resources have been disrupted,” “Visitors and investors doing businesses there have left,” “Our Paramount Ruler was kidnapped in his palace, we want action,” amongst others.
One of the youth leaders, Comrade Etim Bassey, called on Governor Umo Eno to issue an official statement regarding the security breaches in Oro nation and the entire while lamenting that residents and business owners no longer find the area safe and that economic growth in Oron federal constituency has been truncated.
The youths also raised concerns about piracy, armed robbery, and other unreported crimes in the Oro nation, disclosing that “fishermen and other businesses in the river side areas now pay illegal monies to sustain their businesses for fear of being killed or their businesses destroyed.”
They also lamented alleged negligence of the Nigerian Navy in the area and appealed to the House of Assembly to impress it on the five local government chairmen to reside in their respective council headquarters, “to understand the plights of the people.”
Responding, the Deputy speaker of the House, Kufre-Abasi Edidem (Itu), and the Chief whip, Chief Effiong Johnson (Mbo), promised to take their grievances and concerns before the governor, even as they assured that “the governor has been working round the clock for the interest of the entire state.”
