Uruan Local Government Chairman, Surveyor INIOBONG EKPENYONG has reacted to police press release over murder of a job seeker, Iniubong Umoren, stating that the suspect, Uduak Friday Akpan, did not confess to him before escaping to Calabar as alleged by the police. Ekpenyong said in a statement signed by him that the quoted portion of the Press Statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) which noted that the suspect had confessed to him but was never handed to the police tends to portray him as having concealed such security information and this has been viewed as capable of smearing his hard earned reputation.

The Uruan council Chairman explained that he first came to knowledge of what turned out to be very a disturbing development on Friday, 29th April, 2021, when he received a call from one of his kinsmen stating that an elderly man in his community was arrested and detained by the Police on account of a crime allegedly committed by the man’s son who was reportedly wanted by the Police.  He said the person was seeking his intervention to get the Police allow the man who was said to be in a dire medical condition access to his medication, stating that the Police had insisted on detaining him until the absconded son identified as Uduak Frank Akpan was produced.

READ ALSO :Federal Government approves strategy to address worsening rate of poverty in the country

 The Chairman said he immediately swung into action for purpose of facilitating the arrest of the suspect and the effort paid off as the suspect who had earlier hinted that he was at a location in Oron Local Government Area was successfully arrested by the DPO of Uruan following trails facilitated by him and other machinery put in place by the Police. 

He added that the suspect was still denying his role on the trending kidnap/abduction news but was persuaded to turn himself in, in order to clear his name, if his hands were clean as claimed by him.  The council boss however said he was deeply saddened by the horrible incident and condoled with the family and friends of the victim. 

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Akwa Ibom state Government has announced that the monthly general environmental sanitation exercise will be held tomorrow Saturday April 24, from 7.00am – 10.00am but with no restriction of human and vehicular movement during the period.

In a release signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, this month’s sanitation exercise will focus on waste evacuation in order to keep the environment clean and improve the environment’s health standard.

READ ALSO : Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria Akwa Ibom State Council donates Personal Protective Equipment for use by health workers in the state

According to him, residents and community leaders are consequently urged to evacuate all waste around their environment, while the public is urged to adhere to the exercise.

The release directed that all resource persons handling waste evacuation, liter control, sweeping and vegetation to be at the respective duty routes with their workers and in their uniforms for the exercise.

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In order to further engender the attitude of adherence to COVID 19 prevention protocols, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Akwa Ibom State Council led by Comrade Godwin Archibong has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) items including hand washing facilities, facemask, hand sanitizers, disinfectants and toiletries to select healthcare facilities in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket Senatorial Districts for onward distribution to health workers.

The items were donated by the union at the respective Operational Bases of the Primary Healthcare Centres in Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ekpene. Speaking shortly after the presentations, the state Chairman of the union, Comrade Godwin Archibong and the State Secretary, Comrade Arafat Wibani, said it was the union’s decision to support the effort of the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government to nip in the bud the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

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At the various centres, the Directors in charge of  the centres including – Emilia Edem for Uyo, that of Ikot Ekpene, Affiong Essien, and Uwem Etok-Akpan who is the Director, Eket PHC, commended the union for the gesture.

Reacting to the development, the State Chairman of the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, Comrade Felix Inyang while calling on other heath unions to emulate the association, further urged the government to keep providing funds for them to carry out its activities.

Our correspondent reports that other officers of the state executive council of the union who were in the entourage during the presentations include Vice Chairman- Comrade Ben Elijah, State Auditor- Comrade Akan Peter Offiong-ette, Woman Leader- Comrade Affiong Efiok, as well as the State PRO- Comrade Anthony Ekpenyong.

Written By Anthony Esin

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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says its men have killed four suspected sea pirates and arrested one in Oron waterways.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon, who confirmed this in a statement made available  to newsmen in Uyo stated that the police men acted on credible intelligence report and embarked on operation along Ikang creek in Oron to confront the suspected sea pirates on the waterways.

READ ALSO: EFCC arrests former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha

Similarly, while responding to a distress call, he said Operatives of ‘D’ Division, Itam, mobilized to Church Road where hoodlums were operating on March 28.

Odiko noted that the hoodlums on sighting the operatives fired gunshots at them, and during the exchange of gunshots, one suspect identified as Nsikak whose other names are unknown sustained bullet wounds, while one Imoh Daniel was arrested.

He said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Amiengheme Andrew, has assured law abiding people of Akwa Ibom that the Command would continue to partner critical stakeholders to provide security for every part of the state.

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Akwa Ibom state Governor Udom Emmanuel who has approved the set-up of  Land Verification and Recovery Committee to manage, validate and recover lands that have not fulfilled the terms of allotment, in a bid to ensure judicious utilization of land allocated to individuals and companies in the state.

The Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno who disclosed this during an interview, said that land is a very essential resource in the development matrix of the state, adding that the Committee will be charged with painstakingly verifying the authenticity of allotted plots and recovery of those lands which premium have not been paid by beneficiaries, into the coffers of the state.

READ ALSO : Victims of recent attacks in Essien Udim appeal to Akwa Ibom state government for succor

He frowned at those whom lands were allocated and they used the properties as collateral for other businesses without recourse to developing the land in defiance of the terms of allotment as well as those who obtain loans and grants from Government without fulfilling the purpose for which they were given.

He charged individuals who intend buying lands to access information from the Directorate of lands and town planning in the Ministry to avoid acquiring Government lands. The Commissioner further revealed that Local Governments across the state have been mandated to donate at least 50 hectares of land for agricultural purposes, as part of efforts by the State Government to achieve food sufficiency and ensure that 80 percent of foods consumed are grown within the state.

Pastor Umo Eno again restated Government’s willingness to continue to support farmers in the state with various grants and subsidies, pointing out that a comprehensive data base has been created by the Directorate of Agric Investment to collate the number of farmers in the state, the crops they cultivate as well as their various Local Government and villages for necessary incentives to boost agricultural practices.

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People displaced as a result of the recent crisis in Ntak Ikot Akpan community, Essien Udim local government area have appealed to Akwa Ibom state government for support to ameliorate their plight since they have been rendered homeless as a result of the crisis.

Speaking with planet news in Ikot Ekpene, the people narrated the hardship and difficulties experienced since the attacks in their community by the alleged hoodlums.

While thanking the state government for the initial support given, they people further called on them and other well-meaning individuals to as a matter of urgency come to their aid by providing relief materials and accommodation for them to cushion the effect of the hardship.

READ ALSO : Akwa Ibom state Governor Udom Emmanuel directs relocation of Directorate of Solid Minerals from Ministry of Transport to Ministry of Environment

Recall that the Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Anthony Luke had last week said that normalcy has been restored in the troubled parts of the local government area following the recent clearance operation at Ntak Ikot Akpan community by combined military personnel.

While stating that adequate measures have been put in place to forestall further breach of peace in the local government by hoodlums, the council boss acknowledged the timely effort of the state Governor, Udom Emmanuel in curtailing the problem, adding that the displaced persons were well accommodated and taken care of.

Written By Jane Uwa

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Akwa Ibom state Governor Udom Emmanuel has directed that the Directorate of Solid Minerals be moved from Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Environment.

The state Commissioner for Information and strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong who disclosed this while briefing Government House correspondents at the end of the state executive council meeting held at the state EXCO chambers, Government House, Uyo, said the changes were necessary in order to properly align job responsibilities and fast track the Completion Agenda.

READ ALSO : Former president Goodluck Jonathan laments failure of local governments in Nigeria

The information boss further disclosed that the council also took briefings on the state of affairs at Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort under the current management of The Icon Group, as the Chairman of the Board and the MD of the Hotel presented their 1st periodic(120 days) report showing the developments made and the improvements sought to be undertaken.

According to him, the Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Sea Port implementation informed council that Nigerian Ports Authority had set up a joint committee for the project and that plans for execution are on track.
Government house correspondent Jane Uwa reports that the commissioner further disclosed that all Ministries and Bureau presented their performance review for the first quarter of 2021 and council noted that though the reports were commendable, there was room for improvement, urging that the next quarter performance must be better.

Written By Jane Uwa

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Akwa Ibom State police says it has rearrested an inmate who recently escaped from the prison in Imo State.

on 6^th April 2021, personnel of Ikot Udota Division, relying on credible intelligence, apprehended one David Victor Ubong. Suspect confessed to being one of the inmates who escaped from the Nigerian Correctional Service in the recent jail break at Owerri, Imo State.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Army releases statement calling for calm over military operation in Essien Udim Local Government Area

On Essien Udim security situation, the CP Amiengheme Andrew, according the release, informed the state’s people that a mop up security operation is still ongoing in the affected area. The CP urged residents and environs to remain calm and be security conscious as Security Agencies will continue to do their best to restore peace, law and order in the affected area and around the State.  

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Akwa Ibom state Governor Udom Emmanuel has sued for Food Security as a panacea for a stable society.

The Governor who made the stance at the south-south food systems summit, held at Calabar, the Cross River State capital, encouraged individuals and groups to take farming as a business, noting that it is the major way out of poverty reduction in the society. 

READ ALSO : Nigerian Army releases statement calling for calm over military operation in Essien Udim Local Government Area

Governor Emmanuel who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet, highlighted his administration’s  support for farmers to include: distribution of grants and improved inputs for farming, to increase production. He therefore stressed that to have a stable society, food  security should not be compromised.

Earlier in his remarks, the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, through his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, stated that concerted efforts were needed for the region to achieve food security not only for the South South, but for Nigeria and the world at large. 

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The Nigerian Army has said that combined team of Military and Security Agencies has completed a clearance operation at Ntak Ikot Akpan in Essien Udim Local Government Area aimed at flushing out miscreants fomenting trouble in the area, while calling on members of the public not to panic but support the security operatives to rid the troubled part of the local government area of miscreants.

According to a release made available to newsmen by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the operation was successfully executed and resulted in the dislodgment of the criminals while fleeing hoodlums were neutralised by the Air Component. 

READ ALSO: President Muhammadu Buhari approves Transition of Presidential Task Force to Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19

The statement said normalcy has been restored in the area while police personnel have since assumed full control and were carrying out normal duties.

It said the general security situation in Akwa Ibom state has been very peaceful until recently when the security situation around Essien Udim Local Government Area of the State became tensed occasioned by activities of some hoodlums and criminal elements.

The statement added that the miscreants exploited various avenues to acquire weapons to perpetrate their heinous crimes attacking various security agencies which resulted in the loss of lives and carting away of weapons.

The last incident reportedly led to the killing of some Policemen including a Chief Superintendent of Police.

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