The Rector of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Dr. Moses Umobong has called on peaceful coexistence between the villagers, Nigerian Police Force and entire students of the Polytechnic.
Umobong said this during a stakeholders meeting arising from the escalating tensions between armed robbers and police harassment, urging everyone to be proactive for the well-being of the students living in the community
He noted that it is imperative to maintain peace and unity within the Polytechnic Community, emphasizing that the students are the sole reason for which the institution exists.
The Rector said within the limit of their ability, the Polytechnic Management have done their best to provide security by collaborating with relevant units to provide security within their justification.
He noted that the management inherited different facilities including hotels some of which were built and donated by the Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Hon. Prince Ukpong Akpabio and have ensured that those facilities are ultilized for the safety of the students residing in the vicinity, highlighting that no record of armed robbery or casualties have been recorded inside the Campus.
“We have tried our best to provide security within the Campus and it is not our duty to establish security in the villages since we have Village Heads and other hierarchies. As an institution, we cannot establish and provide security for the students residing in these communities since it is the duty of the community leaders".
Umobong stressed that the security breach happening is not inside the Campus but outside the institution, nothing that it is crucial to discuss what to do in order to maintain peace and unity in the institution.
“The security lapses and incessant arrest is only within the knowledge of the informer, the institution is not aware of students brutality and massive arrest. The essence of this meeting is to know where things have gone wrong and how we can all come together and tackle this menace".
The Rector who recounted his experience before he graduated in 1988 as a student said there were no serious issues on security as it is today.
Umobong said there is no law that stops the Nigerian Police from discharging their constitutional duties and that no Court will grant such and the management does not have the right to direct them on how to go about their duties but can only suggest measures and modalities to spur up harmonious relationship among the relevant stakeholders in the institution.
The Member representing Essien Udim State House of Assembly, Hon Prince Ukpong Akpabio in his remarks said that government's right is to protect the rights, life and property of the citizens by providing and equipping the security agencies but called for effective partnerships between the student and the Police especially in the area of information sharing.
He said the Akwa Ibom State Government frowns bitterly with the alarming news of armed robbery around the Polytechnic Community while calling on the village heads, and youth leaders to be more proactive and committted to the well-being of the students.
He said that Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic have one of the cleanness environment with super infrastructural development, noting that the host community are the direct beneficiaries of these facilities which becomes their sole responsibility to protect these facilities since it belongs to them.
He assured the entire students of his readiness to ensure that there will be a Joint Taskforce and Security Post around community.
Ukpong advised the community leaders to know people’s profile who are coming to purchase their lands or rent apartments in their village. He said it is imperative for the landlords to give account of all the occupants of their lodges for security purpose, noting that this will strengthen collaboration and harmonious relationships between the management and the host community.
Speaking further, he urged the students to be more proactive and conscious of their movement especially at night in order not to be harassed by the Police or Vigilante. He said students have means of identity such as ID Cards, and cautioned the students to abstain from illegal ways of making money following the current trend of yahoo yahoo, while encouraging the students to give relevant information to the management and security operative for immediate actions.
Ukpong encouraged the Nigerian Police to rework their operational methodology towards the students, stressing that it is crucial for orderliness and modesty in the institution.
The students of the institution have unanimously called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to provide security Post around the host community of the institution and also establish a Joint Taskforce Committee for the growth of the institution.
Different student leaders who recounted the experience ranging from robbery attack, police harassment, rape as well as insecurity in the area, maintained that it is crucial to raise a formidable vigilante group who are members of each village to enhance security.
The Students Union Government President, Comr. Godfrey Inyene who spoke at the meeting, decried the high level of harassment faced by students from the Nigerian Police who go around to search students phones, jump through students lodges for arrest without any warrant, which he described as a breach on their fundamental human rights.
(C) Dominic Umoh
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