Efio-Ita Nyok|9 July 2016|6:45am
Calabar, Cross River State capital and hostess of the world seems to have lost it's unique serenity, cleanliness and greenery to incidents of broad daylight armed robbery, cult gangs rivalry, kidnappings, militancy, etc especially in the one year span of the Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade's first tenure in office.
Yesterday alone, aside other days of this week, armed robbers have turned the once city of tranquility into a theater of the absurd. In this publication, I shall be reporting the armed robbery attacks of yesterday 8 July alone and accounts of those who eye witnesses/negatively affected recipients:
* First Bank Nig Plc located in Marian Road was confirmed robbed. A lady shot and a customer car snatched off.
* Southern Fries Chicken along the same road just after the Chinese Restaurant in Marian Road was robbed too.
* All Kiddies, belonging to Frank Ayade's wife, the infamous defacto governor, was also robbed and gun men threatened raping the counter girl.
* Shops at Mayne Avenue and Edgerly Road, that is, Odinka Plaza, were invaded by children between the age brackets of 12 and 21.
One Sylvia Ally Willy-Ebri's account of how she would have been involved directly goes thus: 'I would have been involved on my way to Marian market today, but God showed himself on time. Not gotten over the memory. Wasn't a good experience. Somebody please help tell Ayade to look into the security matter and stop touring the world. I carry God name beg am…# See me running with my shoes for hand, you for laugh Orobo tire#.
Charles Ekanem's story goes thus: 'Thank you Lord! I just escaped robbery attack at First Bank Marian Road!!!'.
Kerry Lawrence Lewis Lawrence's account is like this: 'Left the Bank and not up to an hour the attack took place'.
Simon Utsu explains that: 'Another major robbery in Calabar? This is a three day crime jamboree with nothing being done. I learnt a 'new' generation bank was robbed earlier today. A facebook friend who was in a nearby fast-food abandoned his meal and his girlfriend and bolted into the rest room, now his girlfriend isn't picking his calls. Apparently, Ayade's carelessness has(possibly) ended a blossoming relationship.
The question becomes, wither today? Today is Saturday 9 July, What will their armed robbery itinerary look like today? Meanwhile, the governor convened a security meeting yesterday with all security chiefs in the state where he announced, probably from intelligence available to his office, that the spate of armed robbery incidents is incited from the militants who have been displaced from the Niger Delta areas. Whatever, I am calling on Gov Ayade to fix the volatile security situation in the state.
Don't compromise Nigeria's already battered security system by bringing in France to gather intelligence for Cross River State. Rather equip our local security agencies like the Police, Nigerian Civil Defense, etc. Learn from Governor Wike of Rivers State and all these sordid stories will be history. Forget about a so-called Homeland security outfit. It's not feasible.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)
