Police crackdown on PDP members over alleged billboard destruction in Cross River
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State Police Command has cracked down on members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over alleged destruction of billboards.
The Police men arrested at least 30 members of the party in Ogoja Urban in the northern part of the state.
The arrested members of the party are alleged to have destroyed billboards of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogoja.
They are also said to be supporters of PDP’s Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe who is expected to square up against Professor Ben Ayade, the Cross River State governor.
Speaking on the arrest, Venatius Ikem, the state chairman of the PDP accused the APC of stimulating crisis in the state with the hope of clamping down on the party’s supporters.
He said the state Governor Professor Ben Ayade is desperate to return to the Senate and is trying to use security personnel to intimidate voters.
“The APC boys have been simulating crisis in the hope of using the Police to clamp down on our supporters especially in the northern senatorial district.
“Governor Ayade has lost all semblance of credibility amongst our people but is desperate to return to the Senate.
“So we know his game plan depends entirely on his ability to utilize state security to intimidate voters. How that will work for him remains to be seen.
“I can assure you that we will use all means at our disposal to frustrate such nefarious plans.
“Nigeria is still a country of law and order. He will exhaust himself before time because we will follow up all his shennanagins”, he said.
Confirming the arrests, DSP Irene Ugbo, the State Police Public Relations Officer said the suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged destruction of billboards.
She said they will be screened and those who are innocent will be released while culprits will be charged to court.
“Yes, I am aware of the Police arreat in Ogoja. They arrested them in connection with alleged destruction of APC billboards.
“We would screen them and fish out the culprits, those innocent would be freed and those found culpable would be charged to Court”, she said.
