By Egbe Attah
The Third-Class Chief for Otukpo-Akpa Intermediate Area, Chief Sunday Assam, has charged ward heads in his domain to intensify the fight against cultism, kidnapping and other acts criminality in the area.
Chief Assam, who gave the charge in Otukpo, Benue State, during an interactive meeting with the chiefs on last Thursday, stated that the ward heads being closer to the grassroots know the people better and should not hesitated to turn the criminal elements among them to the law enforcement agents, even as he assured them of protection.
On partisan politics, the monarch advised them to be impartial, while dealing with politicians, in order not to destroy their cherished positions and reputations, stressing that as traditional rulers, they are fathers to all.
“Please, we are traditional rulers and we are expected to be politically neutral. Be careful with the way you treat politicians. Treat all of them equally, irrespective of party affiliations because they are all your subjects,” he advised.
His Royal Highness, who maintained that the meeting was to interact, in order to know each other better, thanked the chiefs for their support to him since assuming the headship of Otukpo-Akpa third-class chiefdom.
He bemoaned the rising rate of criminal activities in his chiefdom, especially cultism, kidnapping, ritualism among others and implored security agents to continue their onslaught against criminals, while assuring of the assistance of the traditional institution.
In their separate responses, the Ward Head of Okete, Chief Emmanuel Abounu, that of Otukpo Township Ward Two, Chief Audu Obodumu, among others, commended Chief Assam, for initiating the meeting, while pledging their loyalty and readiness to remain non-partisan, as well as work with him to fight crime in the chiefdom.
However, the Ward Head of Otukpo Township Ward One, Chief Aikwucheyi Alama, who decried the prevalence of cultism and kidnapping activities in the area, demanded that the situation in which culprits are set free shortly after arrest by security agencies, be stopped as it is makes the fight against crimes harder and risky for those willing to volunteer information.
“We are ready to bring out the criminals among our subjects, but, one thing that worries some of us is that as soon as the culprit is arrested and taken to Makurdi, he will boast that the next day he is coming back home. And indeed, the next day, you’ll see him walking freely on the streets making bold face about the crime he committed.
This terrifies some of us because he may come and attack you for giving out the information leading to his arrest. This ugly situation must stop if we must wage the war against crimes successfully,” he explained.
The Voice reports that, the meeting was attended by almost all the ward heads in the chiefdom, as well as the Acting District Head of Akpa, Chief Odeh Ofaka.