Insecurity: Senator Odey Writes Cross River Police Commissioner To Reactivate Abandoned Station

Senator Stephen Odey, who represented Cross River North Senatorial District in the 9th Assembly, has written to the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Alhassan Aminu, calling for the reactivation of the only police station in his ward.

The station, which was fully operational, has been abandoned with no policeman seen across the six communities that make up the Yache ward.

Odey was senator on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, before a court nullified his election.

According to Odey, the ward, in Yala Local Government Area of the State is facing serious security challenges with no active police station.

The letter dated November 15, 2021, a copy of which was obtained by THE WHISTLER informed the Police Commissioner that all the policemen previously serving in the said police station had been transferred from the station, leaving the police station in an abandoned state.

Odey said large markets in the ward which serve as profitable business centres for communities in contiguous states attract many visitors to the ward.

“Also, a lot of primary and secondary schools are scattered across the community where people come from neighbouring communities to school and work,” he stated.

He said he was concerned that the whole of Yache Ward is left without proper security and policing even as the building previously being used still stands.

“As I speak today, no single man is present in that police station neither do neighbouring communities give police coverage to the area.

“With the present insecurity challenges in the country, it is disheartening that the whole Yache Ward is left un-policed, knowing full well that Yache is a border community that shares boundary with Benue State – prevalent with a high level of insecurity and armed bandits, herdsmen and other vices.

“As such, the security of the state is under threat and more so, this area also serves as a loose end for criminals hoping to penetrate the State.”

Expressing worry, he said, “As a leader of this community with the interest and well being of my people at heart, it is quite demoralizing that my entire community is left without a single man to maintain peace and order in the locality, hereby my passionate appeal for the reactivation of the abandoned Aliforkpa Police Station.”

The letter also pointed that, “Yache is the home town of the late Commissioner of Police, Late CP Oko Anyogo who served the Nigerian Police Force meritoriously, therefore, should be accorded that respect and his legacy should not be allowed to die in his home town.

“My dear CP, lives are being threatened and people no longer sleep with their eyes closed as we speak and I can no longer fold my hands and watch the inevitable happen in my community.

“It is on this premise, that I make this passionate appeal for the reactivation and equipping of this police station with an SPO and sizeable number of men, capable of effectively policing the area”, the letter concluded.