APC National Assembly candidate decry rising insecurity cases in Cross River ahead of general elections
The recent attack on the convoy of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Governorship candidate in Cross River State and former Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani along the Betem axis of the Calabar-Ikom Highway has been condemned by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, Ntufam Hon. Edim Inok Edim.
Ntufam Edim while fielding questions from newsmen on Sunday, February 5 in Calabar, appealed for restraint over the rising cases of insecurity in the country as the February 25, 2023, Presidential and National Assembly elections near. This he reasoned is capable of impacting the smooth conduct of the polls.
It would be recalled that Pastor Usani, the PRP governorship candidate escaped an assassination attempt in Cross River State on Friday, February 4, 2023, while traveling on the Calabar-Ikom Federal Highway around Biase Local Government axis when his car was waylaid by heavily armed men.
His assailants who probably did not recognize him killed two unidentified innocent men and dragged 15 other travelers into the nearby forest.
Pastor Usagi’s media aide, David Agabi who was with him at the time of the incident said they were heading towards Nko in Yakurr LGA where the governorship candidate hails from when the assailants swooped on a white posh car, killing two occupants and abducting others alongside one Mr. Egbe Eworo Essiet.
They mistook the former Minister’s car which was next to the white car but shot the driver as they could not ascertain who was Usani among the occupants of the car in the convoy.
And between November 2022 and February 5, 2023, more than 20 people have been reportedly kidnapped or killed on the Calabar-Ikom Federal Highway road.
Last Wednesday, the Cross River State Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Prof. Gertrude Njar was kidnapped and reportedly taken across the Calabar River Creeks while another political aide, Mr. Kenneth Abang, and his cousin were also kidnapped.
The State Police Commissioner Alhaji Sule Balarabe a few days ago paraded about 21 suspects, including those linked kidnap cases in the state.
Ntufam Edim Inok is challenging the incumbent Representatives of Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eta Mbora of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Hon. Bassey Akiba, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 general elections. He has promised to rejig representation, change the narratives in human capital development and infrastructural provision as well as attract federal projects to his constituency if elected into office at the polls in 2023.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
