By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to mobilise all tactical and investigative assets and ensure that the alleged killers of a woman burnt to death are brought to justice.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that a viral video making the rounds on social media showed the gruesome murder of one Madam Martina Okey Itagbor of Old Netim in Akamkpa LGA of the state by some youths over alleged witchcraft.
The Governor, who reacted to the incident in a statement on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbecge, warned against the use of jungle justice in the state.
He said Cross River State like all parts of Nigeria is governed by constitutional order, therefore, all forms of brigandage and criminal acts will not be tolerated and will be met with the full weight of the law.
“My attention has been drawn to the alleged burning to death of a citizen of the state, Madam Martina Okey Itagbor of Old Netim in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State by some unscrupulous, wild and criminal minded youths.
“It is sheer savagery and cowardice for the youths or anybody to take the laws into their hands, more so, involving a helpless woman”, he said.
Governor Otu added that: “Such abhorrent acts have no place in a constitutional democracy that Nigeria practices which our state is part of.
“Our people must do away with all relics of culture that promotes violence, murder and criminality such as in this instance.
“To this end, I am directing the Commissioner of Police in the state to mobilise all tactical and investigative assets and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice.
“I further wish to warn against all of such acts as we have laws and statutes to deal with issues of wrongdoings and disagreements.
“As an administration committed to the People’s First Agenda, my administration will be intolerant to acts capable of breaching the peace, endangering citizens and businesses and portraying the state in a bad light.
“I urge all community leaders, religious institutions and civil society organizations to do more in the area of civic education while championing the crusade for tolerance and respecting constituted authority especially amongst our youths as anyone found taking the laws into their hands will be made to have their day in court,” the governor said.
The governor extended his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and community.
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