About eight persons have been kidnapped from Uyi Effiiong, a remote riverine community in Anantigha in Calabar South Local Council of Cross River State. The Guardian learnt that 10 persons were raped while 38 others were also robbed in raids carried out by suspected hoodlums. The village head of Ikot Anantigha community, Ndabo Bassey Effiong Okon Ubaedet, and other community leaders told The Guardian in Calabar that a large number of armed men, suspected to have come from the creeks along the coast of the Calabar River invaded the community last week.

According to them, the hoodlums, seeing that they can operate unhindered due to the absence of security personnel in the area, have been harassing residents for years. He lamented that the hoodlums strike during the river’s high tide, which usually happens late at night and early in the morning. He said: “These criminals have taken advantage of the absence of any security agency in the community to terrorise us almost every week. They come into the community from any of the five river channels leading into the area with weapons such as AK-47, AK-49 rifles, pistols, axes, sledgehammers, machetes, and daggers. They come with speedboats and announce their arrival with sporadic gunshots into the air to scare the villagers.”

A victim, Warrant Officer Friday Akpan Jacob (rtd), said the criminals have been terrorising the community for years. He said villagers now live in fear. He said during one of the hoodlums’ operations, they broke into his house using sledgehammers, chisels, and axes.

“When they gained entrance, they nearly killed one of my sons who was at home with me. I begged them to spare him and instead kill me. After inflicting injuries on me, they robbed me of everything I worked for. It was a very frightening experience. I will never forget it.”

The Woman Leader of the community, Mrs Affiong Ubaedet, said: “We have been traumatised. There is no time the criminals strike without raping, maiming and stealing goats, chickens, dogs and foodstuffs, including pots of soup.

“Over the years, we have been calling the government and other security agencies to come to our aid, but nothing has been done. We have rented and furnished accommodation in the village for any security agency and are even prepared to pay for their services to ensure that we live in peace.”

The community, however, applauded the state commandant of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Dr Bassey Moses Ogar, for deploying marine officers of the corps to patrol the community and the coastal lines. (The Guardian)

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