Efik community leaders condemn attack on Calabar South Council, Bassey

• NSCDC to partner youths, others on security in A’Ibom

Efik community leaders have condemned the attack on Senator Gershom Bassey’s property, that of his late father and Calabar South Local Council, which lost property worth over N500 million.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Calabar South, Asuquo Etim, said: “The attack on the council was not ordinary but masterminded by some influential people in the government of the state. There is more to it and I believe it may not be unconnected with the fall-out of the tussle that led to the emergence of the sitting chairman and other officers and the power-play on who controls affairs of the council.

“For me, the Calabar South Local Council Chairman, Esther Bassey, has performed predictably well in terms of governance and this crisis is unnecessary but just sheer selfishness and egoism.”

Also, the community leaders condemned the attack and pleaded with the perpetrators and their allies to return the looted property. The Village Head of Akai Efa, Chief Alex Effiom, said: “The attack and assault on our son who is one of the strong pillars of Efik Kingdom and Cross River State, and the only one standing, is uncalled for and cannot be justified under any guise.”

In the same vein, the Chief of Ikot Eyo, Chief Ansa Ekpo Akabom, said: “Ikot Eyo and environs will do everything possible, including house-to-house visit to recover all looted property of the senator and identify those involved in the despicable act.”

Meanwhile, when contacted, the Calabar South Council Chairman, Mrs. Esther Bassey, confirmed the attack on the council, saying that property worth over N500 million were looted and vandalised.

When asked if she suspected any foul-play, she said she was not aware of any but condemned the destruction and looting.

IN another development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom Command, has said that it would partner with youth leaders in the state to ensure adequate protection of government critical infrastructure.

The state’s Commandant, Mr. Samuel Fadeyi, who disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen in Uyo, yesterday, said that in view of the current #EndSARS protests in some parts of the country, the command had deployed all its personnel to critical areas in the state to ensure that hoodlums do not loot, vandalise or destroy government property.

According to him, the command has urged all youths to see government infrastructure as belonging to them and should promptly provide information to the agency on any planned attack on the facilities in their communities.