By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Special Adviser, SA, to the Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development and Control, Ntufam Dr Oscar Ofuka, at the weekend stated that the newly built police station, erected under the Prof Ayade administration at Bendeghe Ekim community, Ofuka’s home town, in Etung Local Government Area of the state would help to secure lives and property in the local government.
Ofuka made the remarks during an interactive session with journalists shortly after being conferred with award of honour alongside 10 university professors of Bendeghe Ekim community extraction at the maiden edition of the International Cocoa Festival, organised by Etung people of Cross River State.
Ofuka stated that the well furnished police station which has been scheduled for commissioning and subsequent handing over to the Nigerian Police authority in December, 2022, would help, not only in boosting the peace and security in the community, but also the lower high rate of crime that bedeviled the communities in Etung, especially during electioneering periods.
Advancing reasons behind his decision to embark on the building of a police station, instead of a cocoa or super market, Ofuka said, “Right in front of me, seven youths were shot dead during the last election, a horrible situation that made me wept like a baby.
“I carried the corpses myself. I felt that this will not repeat itself. And I vowed that I was going to erect a police station.
“I’m not just stopping there. I’m going to erect a staff quarters. Security is a top priority of state government.
“Without security of lives and property, government would not succeed. I am going to ensure that the staff quarters which is at lintel level is complete before the administration of Prof. Ben Ayade winds to an end.
“Like I told you, our state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, have seen security of lives and property at the cocoa belt area as being paramount.
“Bendeghe Ekim used to be a place where people sleep with one eye open, especially during electioneering periods.
“Cultists activities used to be at it’s peak. Probably because of the abundance of cocoa and availability of money from cocoa. Like we know, wherever money exist, there is always crime and insecurity.
“With a police station, things are bound to be calm.”
Earlier, during the award of honour by the Etung people, at the International Cocoa Festival, the people appeal to their sons and daughters, home and in the diaspora to contribute towards the execution of the ₦100 million project fund to build classroom blocks, examination hall and laboratories to boost education in the local government area.
