Emouha-Kalabari Road: Rivers CP Told To Provide Security, Release Arrested Boys – NDIW

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Friday Eboka, has been told to provide adequate security along the abandoned Emouha-Kalabari Road and to release the three boys arrested by his officers on the Emouha-Kalabari while providing security through citizen and community initiatives.

The Niger Delta Interest Watchog (NDIW), made the call while condemning the arrest of the three boys who were bridging the gaps where our security agencies have failed in providing adequate security on the stretch of the Emuoha Kalabari road.

The Rights group pointed out that the road is not just a death trap but also a kidnapper’s den since security personnels were withdrawn and the road abandoned. The NDIW said that the three boys risk their and for the love of their communities volunteered to provide security so that members of the community can go about their business without the fear of being kidnapped, molested, raped, or killed. The boys made invaluable contributions in bridging the security vacuum created by the absence of police and other security personnel. 

The NDIW commends Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the Eid Abali of the Kalabari Kingdom on his contribution to ensuring that the road is safe for citizens to ply their trade. The timely intervention of the Eid Abali of the Kalabari Kingdom has reduced the frequent lamentations of commuters over the poor state of the road, insecurity, frequent kidnapping, raping, and killing of innocent citizens.

The group recalled that recently a young man who was engaged in the legitimate daily endeavour as a driver, was shot dead and a kidnap attempt was made on the life of the wife of a foremost Niger Delta freedom fighter and a renowned Niger Delta Leader, and a prominent Kalabari Chief, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the Eid Abali of Kalabari Kingdom. This is just to mention but two of such brutal killings and kidnap attempts on the lives of innocent and armless citizens.

The group said it is “unfortunate that these boys that deserve commendation and compensation are suffering in the hands of the same security personnel that abdicated their statutory duty to protect the lives and properties of the citizens.

The NDIW therefore call on the affected four Local Government Areas chairmen, to contribute without equivocation, the sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000) each to revamp and make the Emouha-Kalabari road motorable as a starting point in addressing the security challenges while developing a kinetic response to address the security problem. The group advised the affected Local Government chairmen to identify and report the contractor who was given the Emouha-Kalabari Road rehabilitation contract by the Federal Ministry of Works three years ago to EFCC.

The group however, urges the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom N. Wike, and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Friday Eboka, to release the three boys without further delay and thank the boys for standing up to criminal elements in the society to engerder peace and community cohesion. They pleaded with the Governor to intervene in making the road motorable and to eleviate the suffering and life-threatening activities of the kidnappers and other bandits on the road.

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