The Cross River State Government has said that the laws against kidnapping in the state will be strengthened to stem the tide of insecurity in the state.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Eteng Jonas Williams, disclosed this in Calabar during a presentation and validation of the reports on Insecurity in Cross River State: Issues, Actors and Solution.
The event was facilitated by the Niger Delta Dialogue Secretariat and sponsored by the European Union.
According to the Speaker, “There are a lot of things happening to us and the worst is insecurity and we cannot sleep with our two eyes closed.
“The House will look at the anti-kidnapping laws of the state and review it where necessary besides sensitizing the people so that they know the gravity of the crimes they commit.
“We will ensure that the laws are all-encompassing, for today and also for tomorrow”, the speaker said.
Also speaking, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo the convener of the Niger Delta Dialogue said insecurity is the biggest threat to the region the this informed their decision to seek ways to reverse the trend.
“Insecurity is the biggest threat to the region and this made us engage independent researchers to work to unravel the causes of insecurity in the region.
“This will also help in providing empirical evidence on the basis of conflicts in the region and understand the factors behind this in a state by state basis”, she said.
Also speaking, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw the state Chairman of PANDEF commended the NDD for the work done in checking the menace of insecurity and pledged the support of PANDEF in this regards.
