Cross River State Government says an increase in kidnapping cases in Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas of the state as a result of the insensitivity of traditional rulers in the area.
To this end, all the traditional rulers in the two local government areas have been asked to produce the two prominent persons kidnapped recently by unknown gunmen.
Speaking during security meeting between the government, service commanders, and traditional rulers as well as the youths of the two local government areas, Permanent Secretary Security Services, Alfred Mboto, said the increase in kidnap cases in Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas can only be solved by the traditional rulers led by their paramount heads.
Mboto said the era of keeping quiet for traditional rulers is over, hinting that the governement will deal wih any traditional rulers found to have been protecting kidnappers in their area.
On their part, the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi Local Government Area, Etim Okon-Edet, blamed the situation on ceding of Bakassi territory without compensation plans while the Commissioner of Police sued for peace with a warning that anyone established to have gone against the law will go in for it.
The enlarged security meeting was a result of increased insecurity in Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas with the recent kidnapping of former Deputy Speaker and Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman in Cross River State.