SOLDIERS ARREST 17 SUSPECTED MILITANTS IN OKU IBOKU

By Patrick Antia

 

Nigerians soldiers stationed at Ayadeghe in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have apprehended 17 suspected militants from Ikot Offiong in Cross River State.

The soldiers were said to have also recovered many sophisticated arms and ammunition from the suspects.

Our correspondent learnt that the arrest and recovery of the weapons followed a raid on militants' hideouts, along the bank of the river in the disputed area.

The suspected militants, said to be aged between 26 and 40 years are alleged to be responsible for incessant raid on the coastal community of Oku Iboku, whom they have been locked in an age long boundary dispute.

A resident of Ayadeghe, Mr. Okon Edet, told our correspondent that the suspected militants were later conveyed in military trucks, escorted by heavily armed soldiers over the bridge towards Calabar.

Items said to have been recovered from them include many 2 grenade launchers, 36 guns including Kalashinkov rifles, pump actions, double barrel guns and two big ghana must go bag, filled with different calibres of ammunition and assorted charms.

Due to the sophisticated arms cache, many now suspect them to be hired militants from Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State.

Assistant Director, Public Relations Brigade 2, Nigeria Army, Mr. Umar Shuaib, when contacted, said he would get back to our correspondent.

2019: APC Endorses Buhari For Second Term

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus endorsed Buhari at a meeting held on Tuesday night, sources privy to the situation in the party revealed why the caucus made the endorsement before 2019 presidential election.

Impeccable source has it that the national caucus comprising serving and former governors, the National Assembly leadership, and selected members of the national executive of the party at a meeting held on Tuesday night endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari to run for a second term in office. According to them, the endorsement of Buhari for a second term would help to stabilize the polity considering the 16-year rot inherited from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

President Buhari

The caucus at the meeting constituted a committee to resolve all pending issues in the party among other pressing issues agreed on. It was gathered that the caucus agreed that President Buhari should be allowed to seek a second term, though some of the caucus members also noted that it was too early to kick start a second term campaign for the president. It was further learnt that the matter was brought to the fore in a bid to curb restiveness among some party leaders, who have been split over their 2019 political ambition. The development is attributed to the problems that led to the crisis in the National Assembly and also the inability of the party to inaugurate its board of trustees (BoT) till date.

 A source privy to the situation in the party said: “With Buhari contesting in 2019, those who have been squabbling will now have to queue up behind him and put the interest of the party ahead.” In a related development, senators elected on the platform of the party on Tuesday night also decided to work together. In a meeting held in Abuja, the senators vowed to unify themselves in order not to misplace their influence to the more united PDP caucus in the house.

However, the national chairman of the party, chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke with journalists at the end of the meeting, clarified that there was no threat against his position. He dismissed reports of pressure on him to resign his office, saying: “I am not aware that my office is under threat. I led the party to the State House. It amazes me, occasionally it annoys me. That is one of the things you have to endure when you are in a position like mine.” The national chairman confirmed that a committee was set up to resolve all the crises in the party. He urged Nigerians to give the party time to deliver, assuring them that the administration would pick up after the 2016 budget is passed.

As part of efforts to avoid fissures and internal feuds in the party, the president has ordered the worth-west governors and leaders to reunite Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Meanwhile, as the party is busy settling personal issues and internal disputes as well as preparing for 2019 presidential election, the country’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party has asked President Buhari to constitute a panel that will investigate the violence that characterised the Rivers state rerun parliamentary election.

Police Arrest Governor Udom's Aide

There is tension and anxiety in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, following the ‘arrest’ of Ime Uwah, the special assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on marketing and brand management.

Reports has it that some police officers believing to be working for the federal government invaded Uwah’s home on Monday, February 22. The officers who arrived late at night in a Hiace bus were allegedly detailed from Lagos to arrest the governor’s aide over allegations that he kept weapons, ammunition and police uniforms on his farm ahead of the rerun election in the state. The officers revealed that they were acting on an anonymous petition.

According to a source, the trouble started when the officers searched Uwah’s farm but refused to release the governor’s aide, insisting he would be taken to Lagos to have his statement documented. Following the raid on Uwah’s farm, supporters of the state governor have barricaded the police command in Uyo, where the matter is being investigated.

 Another source said that the governor’s supporters are determined to stop the police from taking Uwah to anywhere outside the state. The source noted that there is the likelihood of violence if the police act otherwise.

In September 2015 the Department of State Security raided the Akwa Ibom government house over the same allegation of weapons and ammunition. However, the DSS is yet to comment or make any arrest since the said raid.

Meanwhile; when contacted, the Akwa Ibom State’s Police Public Relations officer, ASP Cordelia Nwawe told our correspondent that she is not aware of such arrest, that she has not been “briefed” thus, not in position to make any comment.

UDOM'S CAMP SUFFERS ANOTHER SETBACK * As Bassey Albert Reject Deputy Governor's Slot * Turn down Ministerial Appointment, 10bn too * Sir Emem Akpabio, Others confused

Plans by few powerful politicians in Akwa Ibom who are bent on ensuring that the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel succeeds Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2015 has suffered another setback. This follows a failed bid to get the immediate past Commissioner for Finance and Gubernatorial aspirant , Obong Bassey Albert to accept to be the running mate to Mr. Udom.

Information reaching us has it that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio who travelled to the United State of America for the 44th Annual Legislative Conference, of the Congressional Black  Caucus Foundation, was cornered by Sir Emem Akpabio, who set up a meeting with Bassey Albert who was also in US.

impeccable source disclosed that at the meeting, erstwhile  Commissioner for Finance, Obong Bassey Albert was asked to shelve his gubernatorial ambition, with the promise that he will be made the Deputy Governor of the State. Albert is said to have been offered a Ministerial slot plus the sum of 10 Billion Naira and juicy contracts. Our source who said Albert rejected the offers made stated that he insisted on contesting.

It is reported that the said moves by the Sir Emem Akpabio led cabal was intended to shore up Udom Emmanuel's aspiration, which many describe as "an unpopular candidate and a novice in polititics." the self styled "godfather" is said to have been disappointed, following his failure to convince Albert into their camp which  would have been a big plus.

It should be noted that Udom's camp recently suffered a major setbacks following the governorship ambition of the  immediate past National Vice Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Consolidation Alliance (ACA); Hon. Mike Sabastine, whose emergence is said to have torn the group apart and pitched him against the self styled "godfather.

AKS GOVT CANCELS CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYMENT

The employment of qualified applicants into the Akwa Ibom State civil service has been suspended till further notice. This was contained in a letter signed by the Chairman of the State’s Civil Service commission, Mr. J. J. Obot.

The letter we learnt instructed that the issuance of appointed letter, as was earlier announced should be stopped with immediate effect, the said letter also advised the public to discountenance the earlier published list.

Investigations revealed that the decision to shelve the exercise is that the recruitment exercise was marred by irregularities. It was even said that some people were made to pay as much as two hundred thousand naira for their names to be shortlisted and that some persons who were recommended by highly placed persons were not shortlisted.

Our civil service source also revealed that the powerful and highly placed politicians who were irked by the exclusion of their candidates pulled the strings that led to “order from above” to suspend the exercise indefinitely, adding that the said list may be altered if and when it will eventually be released.

Efforts to reach the chairman of the Civil Service Commission of the Information Officer was unsuccessful as at press time.

RED ALERT: BOKO HARAM INVADE AKS *UNIUYO TARGETED *STUDENTS SEND SOS

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.