Communities in Cross River State have utilised the services of local town criers in warning against the consequences of the recent End SARS looting.
The town criers who went through in the eighteen local government areas of the state also begged hoodlums to return public and private properties looted during and after the End SARS protest.
A town crier from one of the communities, Effiong Asukwo, who spoke to DAILY POST said he made the announcements in various dialects of the different communities for impact and understanding.
He warned the looters to return the stolen items to designated places where the government or owners of such properties can find them.
The announcer explained that he was working under the directive of the Council of Chiefs in the communities.
DAILY POST gathered that some other communities imposed fines on persons accused of looting but refused to return the properties while others were placed on a native curse known as ‘Mbiam’ in Efik language.
Effiong regretted the actions of the looters, noting that some of the looters have no room to put what they looted.
“How can you live in a room with your parents and steal large-sized furniture that you cannot accommodate, is that not madness, or how can somebody go to a psychiatric hospital and force a patient out of the bed and take the bed bigger than his room?.
“It is very sad and disappointing and it is better our community heads asked them to return those things.
”Failure to do so would attract severe sanctions such as inflicting them with unknown diseases as I have announced. We are very serious about it” he stated.
Also speaking, one of the sponsors of the town crier, Chief Edet Etim said the looters were led by Satan, because he saw no reason why someone will pick a large TV Screen meant for hostels and other places to his house, where will you put them or who will buy them from you, it is very disappointing, my people have disgraced us the Chiefs in Efik Kingdom. We are not known for this” he said.
The town criers who moved about as early as 5am for two days woke villager up with his gong and warnings.
“All those who looted the properties of government or individuals should drop them at the roadside; this is the order of the community”
“Failure to do this will attract sanctions from the community, your parents will not help you, if you are a parent, you may not be able to help yourselves. This massage is from the councils and be warned.
It is better you comply by dropping those things in the night or early hours of the day to avoid you being noticed” the town crier warned.
