The executive members of Abuja Newspaper Vendors Association has called for the apprehension and prosecution of the cultists/armed robbers that carried out the recent killings in Ugep, a community in Cross River state.
In a statement by its chairman, Comrade Etim Eteng Arikpo, on Sunday, it described the dastardly act as completely unacceptable.
“We urge the police to step up its operations to end the prevalent killings by apprehending these criminal elements.
“We note that these cults carried out the killings in daylight for hours without any police intervention thereby pointing to negligence to their primary responsibility of protecting the people.”
It noted that the activities of the hoodlums have continued in the town unabated because the police in Ugep lack manpower and operational vehicles to check crimes in the area.
The association recalls with disappointment the inability of the police to arrest and prosecute the killers of one Onen Larry in the past and now the killers of Emmanuel Utum Solomon and Otu Idiagbon all in Ugep town. Such failure by the police, the association noted, encourage the criminals to take over the streets and cause fears in the town.
“We hereby appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, to heed the cries of Ugep people and immediately increase the staff strength of police personnel and provide operational vehicles for the police in Ugep town.”
