By: Joe Abasi-Abasi, Calabar .
Councillors from Calabar South local government area have launched a renewed grassroots security initiative aimed at reinforcing community vigilance and blocking potential criminal incursions, especially through the waterways that surround several wards in the local government.
The initiative, led by Hon. Moses Eyo, the Councillor for Ward 12, comes in response to what they identified as heightened security issues, the LGA’s geographical strategy, and the necessity for stronger cooperation with community leaders, youth organizations, and state officials.
Speaking during a security-focused meeting convened in Calabar, Hon. Eyo said the councillors have a responsibility to complement the efforts of Governor Bassey Otu and his Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, whom he credited for “restoring relative peace” to Calabar South.
“Calabar South was once known for being problematic, but today we have achieved peace to this level with the help of the governor and his chief of staff,” he said.
“As councillors and chief security officers of our wards, we cannot fold our hands and allow insecurity to creep in. Security is our business.”
“Security is a collective effort. If we protect our communities, we protect our people, our jobs and our future.”
Eyo, whose Ward 12 borders several waterways, warned that the locality remains exposed if community vigilance lapses. He disclosed that councillors had already presented a security framework to Governor Otu and were prepared to lead its implementation at the grassroots.
“Our wards are boundary zones with access routes through the waterways. We have seen videos of bandits moving with speedboats; this is not something we should take lightly,” he added.
“If I protect my ward and you protect your ward, then the whole local government is protected.”
Supporting the initiative, the Ward 1 Youth Leader, Chief Ernest Okon Etim, who double as the Chairman of Youth leaders in Calabar South, described the proposal as “a lofty and timely idea,” urging that it be expanded to include influential stakeholders and community pillars who can sustain and sponsor security interventions.
“Each of us knows our terrain,” he said. “There are no strangers who come into our communities that we cannot identify. In critical moments, a phone call to the right person in the right spot can help nip threats early.”
He added that many criminal activities in the metropolis have historically been linked to escape routes through the creeks around Anantigha, Jebs and other coastal communities, noting that even with increased naval checkpoints, “creeks remain vulnerable infiltration points.”
He emphasized the legally recognized role of councillors as chief security officers at the ward level.
“Security issues can be deliberated by the councillor. Meanwhile, the party constitution specifies the youth leaders as immobilizers. When it comes to provision and support, they know where to channel the demands,” he said.
Another councillor, Hon. Felix Okon, warned against overlooking suspicious activities or unfamiliar faces in the wards. He claimed that some itinerant artisans, including scrap buyers and mobile shoemakers, could be embedded informants for criminal networks.
“Most of these Aboki doing ‘iron condemn’ are syndicates. They monitor the terrain to know where to attack,” he said. “If we know everyone in our neighborhoods, we will quickly identify strangers and prevent surprises.”
Recalling a past militant attack on a marine police post through the waterways, Ita stressed that the councillors’ proactive stance could help prevent similar incidents.
He called for full participation of all 12 councillors, youth leaders, secretaries, and community influencers, arguing that sustainable security can only be achieved through collective action.
“The governor cannot run down to Ward 6 or Ward 2 to secure them. It is we who must feed our leaders with situation reports,” Okon said. “If we fail, our leaders fail.”
At the end of the meeting, councillors agreed to return to their respective wards to convene security committees, engage vigilante structures, and strengthen monitoring systems.
They expressed confidence that with proper coordination between communities and the state government, criminal elements—particularly those relying on water access routes—would find Calabar South increasingly difficult to penetrate.
