Following the high level of kidnapping and armed robbery within Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, the House of Representatives has urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, to establish a military formation in Oron to stem the tide.
This followed a motion brought before the House by a lawmaker, Martins Esin, on the need to beef up security in Oron Local Government Area and its environs.
In his motion, Esin noted that “Oron and other parts of the constituency are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, which provides a gateway to the Republic of Cameroon, but the porosity of the national border has paved the way for hardened criminals operating from the high sea to carry out unabated violence in the town and its neighbouring areas”.
The lawmaker cited the abduction of a High Court judge, Justice Joy Unwana, whose driver was later murdered, along Uyo-Okobo Road after a court sitting on December 18, 2023.
According to Esin, who chairs the House Committee on Youth Development, the minimal presence of Nigerian armed security agencies, and the lack of adequate equipment and morale among law enforcement agents in Oron and its environs, was responsible for the perpetuation of kidnappings, sea piracy, armed robbery and wanton killings of innocent citizens, among other heinous crimes, which have caused economic hardship in the area.
The motion received the support of all members present at plenary.
The House therefore urged the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser to scale up the presence of security personnel in the area by increasing surveillance and manpower in Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency.
The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, mandated the Committees on Army and Police Affairs to monitor compliance.
