Government threatens to dethrone community heads over crisis

Akwa Ibom State Government has threatened to withdraw the certificate of recognition of any village head whose community engages in any form of crisis.

The Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, disclosed this during the presentation of relief materials to victims of the Afaha Itak and Osuk Ediene communal crisis in Ikono Local Government Council.

Ekpo, represented by Permanent Secretary, Nkopuruk Ekaiko, said the state would not tolerate any form of trouble. He said law enforcement agencies have been told to treat perpetrators as criminals and make them face the full wrath of the law.

He said government’s renewed position on the matter became imperative in order to curb the spate of communal clashes and intra-state boundary disturbances.

“In as much as the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is always prepared to come to the aid of victims of natural disasters and emergency situations, the issue of man-made disasters should be controlled to its barest as they amount to a huge distraction.”

Earlier, the Chairman, Ikono Local Government Council, Itoro Columba, commended the state government for its prompt response to the ugly incident. He said it was a testimony to the governor’s love for humanity.