𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯 𝐄𝐧𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐨'𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 - 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐤𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬, 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬...as Akwapoly Rector calls for Effective Collaboration Between Poly Mgt, Students, Host Communities, Security Agencies, Ors

 

Village Heads and Youth Presidents of Host Communities of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, have been urged not to take the simple disposition of the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno for granted, warning that the State Chief Executive will not hesitate to withdraw the Certificate of Recognition of any Village Head found culpable of complicity or negligence in the discharge of their duties.

The Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Prince Ukpong Akpabio II, stated this on Monday, January 27, during an Akwapoly Security Stakeholders Meeting which had the Polytechnic Management, Heads of Security Agencies, Student Groups, Village Heads and Youth Presidents of Host Communities, Landlords and other stakeholders in attendance.

Addressing the gathering at the Polytechnic Library, Prince Akpabio said Governor Umo Eno takes the protection of lives and properties as a top priority which explains why Security is a cardinal pillar of the Arise Agenda. 

He stated that as part of the Governor's strategic effort at ensuring security and maintain the states' position as Nigeria's most peaceful state and a preferred destination for investors, the Governor has invested a lot in security, including maintaining close collaboration and partnership with all security agencies, the establishment of the Ibom Community Watch among others.

He expressed regret at recent cases of insecurity within the Polytechnic Host Communities, and admonished Village Heads to ensure that vigilantee network within their domain are up and doing, stating that security is everybody's business.

While calling on the Police to step up their Intelligence gathering capability, the lawmaker called on the students to play their own role by ensuring they do not harbor criminals in the residence, avoid late nights and report suspicious movements to security personnel and the school authority.

"We know you need some sort of freedom but as a student, you cannot come back by midnight or 1AM and when asked where you were, you say you went to watch football. I am a Liverpool fan, there is no football match that they play by midnight. You must also understand that insecurity is a global challenge and each and everyone of us have a role to play".

"Complaining of harassment by the Police when you are found outside at odd hours do not really hold waters. If you went out and it is late, it is better you sleep where you went and come back the following morning because security personnel also have a duty to protect others. The students are not the only people living within these communities", he cautioned.

He also called on the Village Heads to ensure profiling of not just students and other tenants but also landlords even at the point of purchasing land to build houses.

Speaking earlier, the Rector, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Dr Moses Umobong said, Governor Umo Eno remains committed to providing the enabling environment for learning, expressing delight that since his assumption of office as Rector, there has been no incidence of violence or protest within the Polytechnic, but regretted the recent cases of insecurity within the Host Communities which has created a sense of fear and insecurity among the student population.

According to the Rector, while the Polytechnic Management will continue to engage both security agencies and leaders of the host communities to ensure the continuous safety and security of students living off campus, the students on their part also have a role to play by ensuring they do not harbor criminals, shun cultism, collaborate in information sharing that will help security agencies and most importantly, avoid late nights.

"You should know when to go out and when to go back home early. A situation a student is found outside by 1AM and when asked by security personnel you claim you went to watch football is suspicious and not convincing", he admonished.

The Rector commended the State Government for the cordial relationship and continuous support to the Polytechnic, stating emphatically that Akwapoly has one of the best internal road network among tertiary institutions in Nigeria, assuring that the Umo Eno led administration will continue to provide the enabling environment for students to learn and graduate to become useful citizens to themselves and the society.

Dr Umobong called on Landlords and Village Heads to take the profiling of tenants living in their domain serious, stating that adequate and comprehensive profiling of tenants which separates students and non students makes it easy for security agencies to investigate people, fight crime and helps in intelligent gathering, describing situations where landlords do not even know the full names of some of their tenants as unacceptable.

According to Dr Umobong, Akwa Ibom State is Nigeria's most peaceful state and Akwapoly is a brand that must be jealousy guarded and protected, hence the need for request multi -sectoral and inter-agency collaboration and engagement meetings that will fashion out ways to tackle the issues and concerns raised, warning that the government will not hesitate to use the instrumentality of the law against anyone culpable no matter his or her status in society.

He announced that the Polytechnic will host another indoor strategic security meeting between major stakeholders as security matters are not discussed on camera.

Dr Umobong commended all security agencies for their support to the Polytechnic which has led to the sustenance of the prevailing peace and security witnessed on campus over the years, reiterating his administration's resolve to continue to collaborate and partner with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that Akwapoly remains not just the best in the country but the preferred destination of choice of students desirous of acquiring technical and vocational education that is tailored to meet the demands of modern global competitiveness.

Also speaking, a representative of the Host Community, called for better synergy between security agencies and the judiciary to aid quick prosecution of criminal suspects to serve as a deterrent to others.

The meeting also had in attendance the Deputy Rector, Dr. Lionel Ukoka, Acting Registrar, Mr. Godswill Udofah, Librarian, Dr Mercy Ukpanah, ASUP Chairman, Comrade Eteyen Uko, SSANIP Chairman, Comrade Achibong Achibong, NASU Chairman, Comrade Nnamnso Davies, Dean of Students Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umoh, President of Akwapoly Alumni, Dr Godwin Benson, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Daniel Etokidem, Heads of Security Agencies, Akwapoly SUG President, Comrade Godfrey George, representative of NANS, Village Heads and Youth Presidents of the host communities, among others.