Reports
reaching our newsroom has it that the dreaded terrorist group, boko haram may
have perfected plans to attack some locations within Akwa Ibom State, the
expected targets include the University of Uyo, which has led to the beefing up
of security within the campuses of the University of Uyo.
A security alert dated 6 May, 2014, with reference number;
UU/SEC/20/11/271, signed and issued by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the
University; Lt. Col. NUV Efik (Rtd) stated that intelligence gathered
“indicates that the university of Uyo has been earmarked as one of the major
targets in the event of an attack in Akwa Ibom State.”
Apart from posting on notice boards in all the school’s campuses,
the following persons were copied; the Vice Chancellor, Prof.
Comfort Ekpo and all principal officers of the institution including Deputy
Vice Chancellors, Bursar, Registrar, Deans, Heads of Departments, Directors,
Librarians, Provost of College of Health Science and the Students Union
President,
Efik called
on the university community to raise their security consciousness and report
any suspicious activities to the appropriate authority, maintaining that there
is need to take preemptive actions in a bid to safeguard their campuses from
such attacks.
Some of the
precautions adopted by the school’s security department include; locking of the
pedestrian gates leading into the annex and town campuses, between 12.00 noon
and 3.00pm every Friday, he also said any other measures that may be adopted in
future will be communicated accordingly.
It should be noted recently
a combined team of Army and Policemen were seen escorting some Hausa men to the
Uyo Sports stadium after information had filtered into the state that some of
them had come into the state with some parcels of bomb heaped in between some
yam tubers heading to the prestigious Akpanandem market.
Reacting to the incident,
the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Etim
Dickson to have said that there was no bomb and that the military and the
Police acted on a tip off that some illegal immigrants from outside the country
had invaded the state, arguing that they needed to act fast by ensuring that
they round up the persons involved and then took them to the Uyo Sports stadium
for screening. Etim Dickson said those that came into the state without due
process and those whose papers had expired were immediately taken to the
immigrations office in Uyo were they will be returned to their country.
He noted that those who
were not with resident papers were sent packing, they were sent to the
immigrations for them to be repatriated, adding that they were screened at the
stadium.
A
visit to the institution revealed that students and other members of the
institution observed the security measures while routine internal security
checks on vehicles have been stepped up.
A 300 level, Communication Arts,
female student who spoke in confidence said she has been scared of going back
to the hostel, since reading the alert. She called on the Akwa Ibom State
Government to assist mobilize soldiers to protect them. Another who said she
will not go back to the hostel until adequate security is provided appealed to
the security agencies to work tirelessly and ensure the school is not attacked.
In
the last couple of weeks, security has been beefed up in Akwa Ibom State,
especially around some strategic roads and institutions in the State, following
widespread suspicion that the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram has threatened
to attack the South-South State.
There
has been an unusual military presence on some major roads, especially the IBB
Way and some Hausa-Fulani locations including the Nasarawa Livestock Markets
along the Uyo Village Road, Itam and other settlements.
Unconfirmed
report linked the unusual military surveillance on the capital to the alleged
seizure recently of large consignment of arms brought into the State in a truck
loaded with cows.
Although
attempts to establish the truth of the matter failed, security sources said
“the suspects were apprehended by the military suicide squad and taken to the
Ibagwa Military Barrack in Abak Local Government Area of the State”.
Following
this development, tension has been high in the State, forcing security
officials to take some pre-emptive measures in some institutions said to have
been listed for attack by the Islamists.
In a chat with the Director
of Information, University of Uyo; Mr. Godwin Antai disclosed that the measure
is a preemptive and proactive one taken by the school, he added that it is a
known fact that the boko haram sect always go for crowded target, thus their
decision to re-strategize.
When
contacted on the matter yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),
Mr. Etim Dickson (DSP), denied seeing such letter and refrained from making
comments.
