By Uket Oka, Calabar
The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA) has condemned the recent killing of an Inspector of Police and critically injuring of another by hoodlums who attacked a Police Station in Old Netim, Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State.
Members of the State House of Assembly made the condemnation yesterday, while speaking on a matter of urgent public interest brought before the House by the member representing Akamkpa II State Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Information and Public Affairs, Okon Nyong Owuna.
They also lamented the proliferation of fire arms in the hands of the youths in the State as well as decried the poor security situation in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
Opening deliberations on the motion, the sponsor, Hon. Owuna attributed the recent killing of the Inspector of Police and the mob attack on another officer which left him badly injured to the preponderance of weapons and the daring nature of the youths.
Hon. Owuna further decried the inadequacies in the police force which has rendered the officers and men unable to cope with crimes.
Contributing to the motion, the lawmakers respectively condemned the attack on the police station.
They urged the state government to urgently dispatch patrol vehicles to the three police formations in Akamkpa, calling on the Akamkps Local Government authorities to provide monthly financial support to the police to enhance their operations.
They called on the State Government through the State Security Adviser to collaborate with the security agencies and beef up security to curb the rising crime rate in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
The House further urged community members to form vigilante groups to complement efforts of the State Government while also appealing to corporate organisations and investors domiciled in the area to provide logistic support towards the fight against criminality in the area.
They sued for the creation of employment opportunities, strengthening of the Nigerian police force amongst other measures.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem, expressed sadness over the murder of the policeman and expressed hope that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
