BY: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
A politician and social activist, Chief Ifere Paul, has commended the Cross River State governor, His Excellency Prof. Sen Ben Ayade, (CON), over the prompt mobilization of security personnel to Uyanga to rescue the nine kidnapped travelers along Calabar/Ikom-Ogoja Federal highway.
In a statement in Calabar, he said, this singular act, “as given back hope to the people of Cross River State that the Ayade meant well for Cross Riverians”.
He said “I was particularly troubled when the news broke out that “herdsmen” has invaded Cross River State, and that it will no longer be business as usual along the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja Federal Highway. It was more troubling knowing that this is the only entrance “to and from” Calabar, the State capital of Cross River State”.
As a result of this healthy development, he continued, ‘I will continue to stand with His Excellency to secure Cross River State and for demonstrating the desired leadership within the hours of the incidence till now.”
Describing the action as a welcome development, he commended His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade for also requesting from the Federal Government to draft in more security personnel into Cross River State as well as asking the Federal Government to deploy its Tuscano Surveillance Aircraft to comb the Uyanga and other forests in the state “.
He also appealed to His Excellency “to please be kind to involve the Inspector General of Police office to deploy the latest drone capability to the entire Cross River State, not just Akamkpa forests.”
The police, he said “should as a matter of urgency, through the Commissioner of Police office in Cross River State release the identities of those arrested in connection with the incident of the kidnapped travelers. Cross Riverians are desirous of the truths”.
Ifere Paul expressed his profound gratitude to His Excellency for the rescue of the nine kidnapped travellers. I am most grateful for arresting the situation from collapse.
He prayed that God should grant His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade “the grace to finish stronger than expected.”
