The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State, Anthony Attah, has called on Governor Bassey Otu to take concrete measures to combat the rising cases of kidnapping in the state. Attah’s statement comes in light of the recent abduction of Reverend Mike Obiora, the Senior Pastor of Word Alive Church in Calabar, along with his daughter.
Governor Otu had previously announced his intention to acquire a special technology to detect kidnappers anywhere in the state. He also expressed his determination to enforce the state’s existing law on kidnapping, which includes the death penalty. However, the IPAC chairman believes that these promises are not enough.
Attah pointed out that kidnapping has become a recurring problem in both urban and rural areas of the state, affecting not only prominent individuals but also ordinary citizens. He stressed the urgent need for the government to go beyond mere rhetoric and take substantive action.
“The government needs to do much more than just promising to arrest the culprits and condemning the act,” Attah stated in an exclusive interview with Media Talk Africa.
In his view, security agencies in the state must intensify efforts to gather intelligence on the criminal elements responsible for these kidnappings. Attah emphasized that these criminals are not strangers; they live among the people. Therefore, a greater focus on intelligence gathering would be key to curbing their activities.
Attah also emphasized the importance of a robust local government system in tackling the issue of kidnapping. He believes that the state government alone cannot effectively combat this menace and that a viable and vibrant local government system is necessary to address the crisis across the state.
Highlighting the severity of the problem, Attah stated, “Beyond what is reported in the state capital and its environs, the level of kidnapping occurring in rural areas is catastrophic.”
The IPAC chairman’s plea to Governor Otu reflects the growing concern among citizens about the increasing incidents of kidnapping in Cross River State. As security remains a top priority, it is crucial for the government to take immediate and effective action to protect the lives and property of its residents.
