(ETG) has condemned the roles of Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge
of elections in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ibrahim Kaoje in the release of
over 160 suspected political thugs allegedly brought to the State from
Edo State.The group, which also decried the invasion of the State by soldiers,
alleged that soldiers from the 13th Brigade in Calabar, Cross River
State were already being moved to Akwa Ibom State in about twenty
trucks with clear instruction to aid hijack of local government result
sheets by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.
It said the APC federal government as well as CP Ibrahim Kaoje must be
held responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in
Akwa Ibom State.
In a release on Thursday, by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Kazeem
Adekunle, the ETG alleged that the thugs that were apprehended by
eagle-eyed youths in the State were released at about 1am today, and
are now being camped at the campaign office of the APC governorship
candidate, Nsima Ekere.
ETG, which described Akwa Ibom as a peaceful State, said; “Our
officers that have been in the State since Monday have reported that
there is no threat whatsoever to the peace of the State, except
Tuesday and yesterday’s influx of political thugs from Edo State.
“Even with this influx of thugs, many of whom have been apprehended by
vigilant youths of the State, there is assurance from the State
Governor, Udom Emmanuel that security of lives and properties will be
guaranteed before, during and after the elections just as it was done
during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.”
It said by releasing the arrested thugs and handing them over to the
APC leaders, the police under Mr. Kaoje was proving to the world that
it was working with firm instruction to subvert the will of the people
of Akwa Ibom State.
The group called on the international community, election observers
and particularly the General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) led National
Peace Committee to focus their attention on Akwa Ibom State, having
been tagged as one of the States to be forcefully grabbed by the APC.