By Godwin Japhet

Governor Umo Eno has assured Akwa Ibom people that the security situation will soon improve. But what next, after that? Will action follow words or will it just be mere assurances?

The recent murder of a policeman, by an unknown gang of hoodlums, has increased the tension that has been enveloping the State, lately. In other places, the killing of a law enforcer draws out the entire security structure on a revenge mission against the criminals.

Reports say the policeman was killed outside his wife’s shop, near Enen Ekpene axis of Uyo, the state capital. Sadly, this happened just as the state governor, Umo Eno, warned criminals to move out or get caught.

Some analysts say for the dare-devils to kill a law enforcement officer, severing his head from the body, it means they were battle-ready and didn’t take the governor’s threat seriously.

Akwa Ibom State, in the past few years, has witnessed a relatively peaceful atmosphere which created a workable, friendly, environment for prospective investors. But with the recent deluge of criminal offensives, the investors may have a rethink.

The spat of kidnapping, increased armed robbery, suspected ritual killings, etc, have indeed given the citizenry a cause for concern. But if the police fail us, why should the recently launched Community Watch outfit, said to have gulped over N1bn so far?

Since operatives of that body was supposed to have been picked from the communities for the relevant trainings in intelligence gathering and surveillance, one is therefore at a loss as to why the state is still under seige by hoodlums.

In some parts of the state, both at night and in broad daylight, there are increased reports of burglary, theft, robbery, etc. Analysts have however advanced some reasons why the Akwa Ibom security outfit is not working.

While some argue that the recruitment processes were faulty, others blame the hierarchy of the body for instigating the crimes, so as to present the governor with the frightening reports and end up benefiting from the expected loot meant to quell the crisis. On the faulty recruitment process, it is argued that rather than pick the personnel across the various communities of the state, the leaders of the local security group draw up a list of their core loyalists from a few localities and submitted to the governor.

The result is what we have now, as there has not and cannot be proper intelligence gathering across the state, since the personnel were recruited from a limited section of the state.

Hence, in most parts of the state, especially in semi-urban enclosures, people no longer sleep with their eyes closed as the fear of the unknown pervades the nooks and corners of communities,homes,schools,churches, and even corporate institutions.

A PDP chairman,an ex-banker and another private citizen were kidnapped a few days back in public glare at a popular sitout at Osong Ama Estate in Uyo. Two persons were reportedly kidnapped in Eket the next day. At Ekom Iman area of Uyo, another person was also reportedly kidnapped last month.

As if those were not scary enough, the recent introduction of suspected ritual killings have increased the jitters. So far, three girls were reportedly found dead, with their body parts removed in the past few days in Uyo.

The dire situation paints a near collapse of all security apparati and strategic malfunctioning of those agencies charged with the utmost responsibility of overseeing the welfare/safety of the people. In the face of poor intelligence, limited personal, dilapidated resources and inadequate knowledge of the local environment, the police appear helpless.

With the huge security votes set aside in the state monthly, any people-oriented government should do it's best to use the common patrimony to secure the people’s lives and properties, which is the primary function of government.

While the governor should be commended for trying to bolster the confidence of the masses, the actual sustenance of peace and security go beyond mere threats to the criminals. They require, among other things, strategic planning, commitment, focus and political will.

Hence, the state government should sit up in tackling this emerging menace but should avoid playing politics with the lives of the people. Time to act is now!

* Japhet is a Public Affairs commentator