Akwa Ibom State government has earned that it will not allow strangers to invade the state and destroy public and private property under the guise of protest.
A statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, said the state will not fold its hands and watch the state laboured to plunder.
The statement, anchoring on the developments from the #EndSARS Protests in Uyo stated, “The national protest by citizens against police brutality started in our country few weeks ago, with a concomitant spread to different states of the federation.
“About a week ago, youths gathered at the globe roundabout, Uyo to register their solidarity with victims of police brutality and to draw the attention of the world to the prevalence of these issues.
“The Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel addressed the protesters who were very peaceful. Thereafter, the protesters shifted base to the city center and have since remained very peaceful.
“In response, the Governor, has swiftly taken steps to assuage the protesters by setting up and inaugurating a Judicial Panel of Investigation.
“As at today (Thursday, October 22, 2020), we have witnessed scenarios where the protests were clearly hijacked by hoodlums who were attacking public and private property and looting business premises, which confirm the earlier intelligence available to us on the planned hijack of the peaceful demonstrations.
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“To this end, we appeal to all genuine protesting groups to please suspend their protest due to the obvious hijack by negative minded elements.
“The protesters and other victims should rather use the opportunity provided by the Panel of Investigation, which sitting will commence on Monday, October 26, 2020 at the High Court complex, FULGA road, Uyo.
“We cannot therefore allow strangers to invade our state and destroy our public and private property, which we laboured strenuously to build and acquire over decades.
“To allow these unpatriotic elements to destroy private or public property, will be to surrender our land to evil plunder and we will have ourselves to blame, when all of this is over.
“Like we have seen in other parts of the country, today we witnessed the protests take a violent turn, where innocent citizens have been brutalized and property destroyed. The people whom the peaceful demonstration sought to protect have become the victims of violent protest, because in a mob action, no one is safe.
“As the curfew imposed by the Governor subsists, We ask all Akwa Ibom people to be on red alert and report to the police and other security agencies, any suspicious movements and persons. We are trusting that God, who has been our help in ages past and our hope for years to come, will continue to keep our state and citizens safe. Akwa Ibom is all we have as God’s piece of real estate for us and we must take practical steps to protect our collective heritage.”
