MESSAGE TO AKWA IBOM YOUTH

By Ubong Creativity David

My fellow Akwa Ibom Youth,

I know for sure that the time is hard but that is not a justification that you must indulge in criminal activities. Hear me and hear me very well, kidnapping, armed robbery, Internet fraud, etc, are not professions. Don’t indulge in it.

Just yesterday, it was reported that three kidnappers were killed during a gun duel with the Police at Abak LGA while others escaped. I am very convinced they will be trailed, arrested and prosecuted or they may follow the same route like their colleagues. Kidnapping is not a profession and those who indulge in it will soon meet their waterloo.

Two weeks ago, a prominent son of Eket local government area and the owner of the biggest shopping mall in Eket, Hephzibah Mall, Mr. Ekerenam was kidnapped, his driver shot dead at the spot while Police attached to him was shot severally but it was through God divine intervention that he survived. Till date, I don’t know the fate of the victim. Someone confided in me that the hoodlums demanded for N300million and I exclaimed, what? 300 what?

Recall that about three years ago or thereabout, the wife of this man was kidnapped but was later rescued through the combined effort of detective from Eket Divisional Headquarters and Inspector General of Police Tactical Team. The hide out of the kidnappers was trailed to Ikot Ubo and the house was demolished by the Police. Last year, armed robbers robbed the same shopping mall and one is compel to ask, is it wrong for one to invest in his community and create jobs for the unemployed?

Hephzibah has grown and I was impressed with the expansion that is going on in that place, but some criminal elements have made it a routine activity to commit atrocious act and cause pains to many. This is condemnable and the perpetrators of this act should desist from it henceforth. We need peace in our communities, local government areas and state for development to thrive. No genuine investor will put money where his life and business is threatened. Government cannot do everything. We must allow people with genuine intention for development to carry out their businesses without interference.

My dear Akwa Ibom Youth, please don’t join the multitude to do wrong, the Bible admonished. Don’t cut short your life by indulging in criminal activities. Many young people have lost their lives by joining bad gang to cause havoc in the community thereby stampede development activities. Do not join them. Many of you are now into drug business while some are even sacrificing young ladies for ritual purposes. Those who indulge in this criminal activities will never go scot free. You can run but you cannot hide. One day the long arms of the law will catch up with you. Please refrain from these activities. Allow our State to be in peace for business and development to thrive.

I am saying all these to say stay away from crime. Drug business, internet fraud, armed robbery, kidnapping, etc, are not profession. Don’t get involve in it. Those who are into it don’t last and you won’t be an exemption.