Ukanafun youths charged on security ... as DPO reads act

The Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Apostle Sylvester Udokang has tasked the youths of the area to be vigilant at all times in view of the security challenges facing the nation.

The chairman gave the charge on Thursday at a meeting with village youth leaders at Ikot Akpas Nkuk. He advised the youth leaders not to usurp the powers of the village Heads even as their functions are restricted to security and social services to their communities. The chairman warned them not to adjudicate on civil or criminal cases but to report same to appropriate authorities.

Apostle Udokang also advised the youths to be red alert on the activities of herdsmen invading the area because of the security implication of their presence, lamenting that some people in the area had allegedly collected money from the Fulani herdsmen to provide them with land for grazing. He called on the youths to desist from such unpatriotic activities.

The council chairman further charged the youth leaders not to use their offices to foment trouble, stressing that cases of extortion and intimidation with dangerous weapons have been reported. He urged the youth leaders to maintain cordial relationship with their village heads in order to promote harmonious working relationship.

The chairman decried incessant cases of child – theft and trafficking, rape and related crimes, adding that youth leaders and parents should be vigilant as criminals are on the prowl.

Also speaking, the Ukanafun divisional police officer, Mr Friday Mkpa warned that anybody nabbed for committing crimes would be made to have the full weight of the law. He emphasized that the youths should not aid or abet crimes as such offenders would not escape punishment.

The DPO advised people in the area to report all suspected criminal cases to him by calling his mobile telephone numbers, and not to resort to jungle justice. He stressed that vigilante should be formed in villages to beef up security in the area and checkmate influx of stranger elements and dare devil criminals.        

He further advised that the role of youths in community service should be restricted to assistance in prevention of crimes and maintaining sanitation of villages.

He maintained that youth group as a voluntary association should not be hijacked for youth restiveness, military, thuggery, child trafficking, drug abuse and cultism. He warned those who disguise their vehicle plate numbers of night for ostensible reasons to desist as such posture portray criminal intent.

The special adviser on youths and political affairs to the council chairman, Hon Umakiso Umoh stated that wherever there is power – tussle in the village youth leadership, such matters would be resolved by the Government without rancor.