Otu Vows Crackdown As DSS Intercepts Sophisticated Arms In Cross River

Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, has vowed to deal decisively with those behind a cache of sophisticated weapons intercepted by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) along the Bekwarra-Ogoja axis, warning against attempts to turn the state into a theatre of violence.

The interception, which has raised concerns over the movement of illegal arms into the state, followed the tracking of four suspects from northern Nigeria through Benue State into Cross River. Two suspects were arrested, while the other two reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds.

Otu, who spoke through his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, during the parade of the suspects and display of the recovered weapons, said his administration would not compromise the peace and security of the state.

“The peace of Cross River State is non-negotiable. No political ambition, personal interest or desperation for power is worth the life of any citizen.

“We will not allow anyone, regardless of status, political affiliation or connections, to import violence into our state or turn our communities into killing fields,” the governor warned.

Odey said preliminary investigations suggested that the movement of the weapons might be linked to political activities.

He warned that the weapons could be used to intimidate political opponents, threaten communities, disrupt lawful political activities and endanger innocent citizens if they fell into the wrong hands.

“Arms of this nature, if placed in the wrong hands, could be used to intimidate political opponents, terrorise communities, disrupt lawful political activities and inflict irreversible harm on innocent citizens,” he said.

The deputy governor said the arrested suspects would be charged to court as investigations continued to establish the source of the weapons, identify their alleged sponsors and determine their intended recipients.

Otu reiterated that nobody was above the law, warning that anyone found culpable would face the full consequences of the law.