Efio-Ita Nyok|20 December 2017
Mr Emmanuel Unah, Vanguard's correspondent in Cross River state recently narrated his experience with the cold blood murder of suspected cultists by members of rival cult gangs in Calabar South, Cross River.
This narration came on the hills of the outbreak of cult gangs rivalry that transpired recently in Calabar, Cross River capital that has allegedly claimed over five lives from reports. However, Unah has submitted that, despite the threat to lives and security of property the activity of the clandestine group poses, 'We are the sons and daughter of Calabar South and nobody can drive us away'. Excerpt of the narration:
WE ARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CALABAR SOUTH
'After the late night down pour of Saturday, 16/12/17 marked by thunder and lightning I came out of my apartment and sat at the balcony to take some early morning breeze. At about 7 : 00 am I heard some explosions down the street and I thought it was some spoilt brat exploding fire works. However, my curiosity was aroused when the explosions sounded louder and more ferocious than the traditional fireworks. Ten minutes later, I stepped out to get some Akara balls and I saw a crowd gathered some fifty yards down the street. When I got there I beheld a room with its door shattered with an axe and on the bed lay a body with its face covered with a towel. He was obviously dead haven been shot severally. I was told the young man was a second year student of the University.
'The previous day, 14/12/17, I was driving home at about 2.00 pm when I saw people running helter-skelter around Palm street. I wondered what the problem was but drove on. At Abasi Edem by Palm street laid a body freshly butchered. I heard he was gunned down and butchered with machetes. I was told he finished from CRUTECH and has four kids.
'We are the sons and daughter of Calabar South and nobody can drive us away'.
In Unah's essay, there's palpable expression of uncertainty —probable fear for safety of lives and property. But, where he's insisting on staying without any assurance from the security infrastructure of the state, it's obvious, Nigerians of Cross River's residency and indigenisation, have resigned to fate.
I hazard to say that the quality of public administration particularly in the area of security is in its all time low. Hmmm!
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
