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| Victim of the armed robbery attack on Utanga, Obanliku Local Government, Cross River State |
By Obio Monday
Armed robbers in miliary uniform, on Monday, November 8, at about 11am, unleashed an unprecedented mayhem on communities in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, killing a middle-aged man and injuring many.
An eyewitness told GRASSROOT REPORTERS that the robbers were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, numbering about 20. He said the men of the underworld stormed some villages in Obanliku before attacking Utanga, a community few kilometers from the popular Obudu Ranch Resort, but they couldn't do anything to resist the attack, as they were caught unawares due to lack of mobile telecommunication network in the area.
He said
"They first robbed five communities close to Utanga. We were not aware that there was robbery incident going on as there is no mobile network in the area. After that, they drove through the road to Utanga, robbing shops to shops, residential houses.
"At first, shop owners thought they were military men, not until they started shooting indiscriminately.
"They entered shops, beat up, Injured those that refused complying with them. A young man from Utanga was shot dead in the process.
The source further said that a fuel station worker who tried to argue with the armed robbers was stabbed in the back, arms; and a deep cut on his head, adding that he has been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
Another eyetwitness said he saw the armed robbers seizing motorcycles from some villagers in Utanga.
Some of the villagers who spoke with GRASSROOT REPORTERS lamented the lack of telecommunication network in Utanga and a functional security network in the area. They called on government to put in place functional Police Post in the area, as they have been subjected to incessant robbery attacks in recent time.
Obanliku Council Chairman Mourns Victim of Robbery Attack in Utanga Community, Calls for Calm
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Area Evang. Hon (Mrs) Margaret Inde has described as barbaric, the gruesome killing of an indigene of Utanga Ward by suspected armed robbers in the early hours of Monday, November 8th, 2021 in Utanga.
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| One of the victims of the attack receiving medical attention |
Hon. Inde who condemned the ugly incident enjoined the family of the deceased to be strong, praying for his peaceful repose of the victim of the attack, as well as quick recovery of those who were wounded and currently receiving treatment at various health facilities.
Hon. Inde as part of relief measures has dispatched a team led by her Special Adviser on Security, Mr. Gabriel Akomaye to visit victims who were hospitalised as a result of the incident.
The LGA Boss sympathized with the victims, calling for calm and assured that efforts are in top gear to bring perpetrators to book.
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| A delegation of Obanliku LGA Chair on a condolence visit to the deceased family |
She said government will stop at nothing to guarantee the safety of citizens, stressing the need for Obanliku to be vigilant and work with security agencies at all times to make their jobs easier.
While lamenting the infiltration of miscreants into Obanliku, she called on neighbouring Local Government to beef up their security, noting that a threat to one is a threat to all.
The Council Chairman explained that government will not need to let loose the security strategies deployed to safeguard the entire Local Government from further attacks and appealed for continuous peaceful coexistence as a recipe for check against all forms of social disturbance, saying "God will not spare the wicked in the land of Obanliku"
Hon. Inde assured indigenes that government will ensure all factors militating against the effectiveness of security apparatus in the LG will soon be a thing of the past. Hence arrangement have been concluded to equip the police with a patrol vehicle to Beef-up Security
She however maintained that "security strategies deployed by government to keep Obanliku safe will not be posted on social media"
One person in connection with attack has been arrested. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Obanliku LGA Chairman, Akpo John Unimnia, said:
"The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obanliku Mr. Elemi Bassey have already taken into custody one indigene of Utanga who allegedly harbored one of the suspectedly robbers before the incident."
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