The recently launched security outfit in Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Community Watch (ICW), has reported the successful apprehension of over 18 suspects in Uyo, accused of burglarizing shops and stalls during the yuletide season.
The Commander of ICW, Isantim Kenneth Okon, revealed this information during a meeting with the leadership of the Centre for Human Rights & Accountability Network (CHRAN) in Uyo.
Okon shared that the suspects targeted shops whose owners had moved to the Christmas village to sell their wares, taking advantage of the festive season. Through ICW’s surveillance efforts in key areas of Uyo, the suspects were captured and promptly handed over to the police for further investigation.
Highlighting ICW’s positive impact during the 2023 holiday season, Okon emphasized a significant reduction in cases of rape and theft around the Christmas village. ICW actively assumed security responsibilities in the area, collaborating with other security agencies for effective intelligence sharing.
He stressed the non-political nature of ICW, asserting that it operates purely as a security outfit and debunked claims of political affiliations or ties to cultism among its recruits. Okon stated, “Security is everyone’s business,” urging community involvement in security matters.
The Akwa Ibom State Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, commended the state government for enacting laws to establish ICW, focusing on internal security issues. Isong urged ICW to address challenges such as vandalism, cultism, trafficking (especially within Ibom Plaza), kidnapping, and other security threats.
He also called for continuous training of recruits and the establishment of a human rights desk for public complaints, emphasizing the importance of a human rights perspective.
Isong recommended the expansion of ICW’s reach to university campuses, monitoring scavenger and cattle rearer activities, and urged Governor Umo Eno to provide a cattle ranch to address issues related to open grazing in the state.
He assured that CHRAN would monitor the activities of the security agency, emphasizing the need for vigilance and effectiveness.