- The Carnival Commission’s executive secretary expressed gratitude to the AIG for their supervisory role on the Command, stating it has brought relative peace to the State.
- SP Nelson Okpabi, zonal PRO, urged residents, particularly those attending twin celebrations, to be security-conscious as they enjoy the festivities.
In order to ensure that participants and guests have sufficient security coverage before, during and after the annual one-month Calabar Carnival as well as for the Yuletide celebration, Augustine Grimah, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, has been instructed by Jonathan Towuru, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six, to deploy more men.
During a courtesy visit to his office, the AIG revealed this to Hon. Austin Cobham, the Executive Secretary of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, and his staff.
According to certain media sources, crimes like armed robberies and kidnapping have increased recently in the state.
In a statement signed by the zonal PRO, SP Nelson Okpabi, he, however, called on residents of the state, especially the participants at the twin celebrations to be security conscious as they relish the festivals.
“I want to urge the good people of the Zone six who reside in the state to be security conscious.
“I appeal for your cooperation with the police. And please I want to encourage you to be bold by promptly reporting suspicious characters within your community to enable the police disrupt and apprehend the criminals.
“Let me inform that I have directed the Command Commissioner of Police to ensure proper deployment of personnel and resources during the yuletide season for effective policing”, the AIG said.
Speaking earlier, the executive secretary of the Carnival Commission thanked the AIG for his supervisory role on the Command which, he said has brought relative peace to the State.
He added that their visit was to reinforce the existing partnership for a hitch free 2023 carnival.
He further appreciated the police for securing the state and invited the AIG and his team to this year’s carnival.