Gov. Ayade Sends Warning Message To Unrepentant Criminals

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has sent a warning message to unrepentant criminals in the state.

Ayade at the launching of a Special joint security team “Operation Akpakwu” comprising all security agencies including police, Army, Navy amongst others on Thursday warned criminals, armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits to leave the state or rot in jail.

Speaking at the event, Ayade who was flanked by all the service commanders in the state, vowed to return the state, particularly Calabar, to the paradise it once was.

He said though statistically, Cross River remains one of the safest places in the country he decried the recent incidents of criminality, especially kidnappings in the state.

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He said “Every criminal in the Cross River at this point must relocate immediately or wrath in jail as the state will no longer be a haven for their kind.

“Cross River State statistically remains the safest state in Nigeria, however as a state, we are used to the culture of zero kidnappings, zero cultisms, and zero robberies.

“In recent past, there has been an increase in crime within the Niger Delta and the country as a whole arising from the difficulty orchestrated by #EndSars as well as Covid-19 which brought general poverty and general hardship upon the entire world.

“The instruction is very clear from Abuja, you must deal decisively with any form of criminality, you must deal decisively with any form of banditry, cultism, kidnapping of any form.

“Let this, therefore, be a strong message to every Cross Riverian and non-indigenes alike, that as far as you are resident in Cross River State, today is the end of that criminality.

“Today is the end of armed robbery, banditry must end today. We have received very clear instructions from the federal government and I have supported and I stand strong with all my military men and the police that they must comply with the obligations.

“The instructions and orders of the Inspector General of Police and the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces that Cross River State must be made safe,” he said.