Date Published: 02/18/10

Editor Sir,

Regarding Gen Akpan kidnap saga

It is a thing of joy that former NYSC boss, retired General Edet Akpan, who was kidnapped in a church in his village was released early hours of the February 4 th, according to news. But what would remain indelible in people’s mind would be the trauma which the killing of two mothers inside the church and also how to reconcile the attitude of Akwa Ibom government in the saga. Reminded by the general’s kidnap, the governor had a day after the incident suspended (for only six months) three traditional heads that harboured kidnapped persons in the long past. One then asks why the governor’s action was coming about a year late.

Next newspaper of February 2 nd 2010 reported that “The State governor, Godswill Akpabio, who rushed back to the State following reports of the incident (kidnap of Gen Akpan), is said to have offered his administration’s readiness to pay compensation to the families of all the dead victims”. People posited that that kind of reactions of the governor could be suspect.  But the governor in The Nation and Nigerian Tribune of February 5 th 2010 accused the opposition for being behind the spate of kidnappings in the State to which he added “In fact, they are even accusing me as the one behind the spate of kidnappings in the State, and the question I ask them is: when al-Quaeda struck in the United States was former President Bush accused of being the one behind the attack?”  He also said that 20 of his supporters have been earmarked to be kidnapped before the next election and that he has security report on who those kidnappers or their sponsors are. He should please name to the security agencies those kidnappers’ sponsors and the 20 earmarked.

The Kwara State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Mamman Sule, who secured the release of the PDP national secretary’s son (Biodun) narrated in the Sunday Vanguard of February 7, 2010 how he used the gsm number surveillance system to track down the area where the kidnappers of the boy were located.  One then asks if such does not exist with the Police command of Akwa Ibom - a State with small landmass.    

Katherine Eno Akpan

Plot 1348 Gwarinpa Estate

Abuja, FCT.

kenoakpan@yahoo.com