Adejoke Adebiyi
The Traditional Council of Old-Netim Community in Cross River State is urging the police authorities to release a group of 25 youths who were arrested approximately two months ago.
The arrests followed allegations of their involvement in the tragic death of an elderly woman, Mrs. Martina Okey.
Reportedly, she was accused of being a witch responsible for the deaths of several young individuals.
This incident prompted Governor Bassey Otu to order the arrest and prosecution of all parties implicated in the gruesome murder.
The Council, led by Chairman and Clan Head H.R.H. Ntufam Augustine Nyong Orok, along with Secretary Ntufam Linus Pius Mbey, has expressed concerns about the police’s actions.
The council argues that the authorities conducted a broad and indiscriminate arrest of youths within the Old Netim Community.
Furthermore, the Council contends that the entire youth population of the community cannot be held responsible for the crime.
They assert that it was a faction of the youth who disagreed with them that committed the act. This faction aimed to tarnish the community’s reputation through their actions.
In a statement jointly signed by the council chairman and Clan Head H.R.H. Ntufam Augustine Nyong Orok, and the Secretary Ntufam Linus Pius Mbey, they allege that the police carried out mass and indiscriminate arrests of youths in Old Netim Community.
They argue that the murder was not carried out by the entire youth of the community.
The traditional council explains that those responsible for the murder were youths who disagreed with them.
“The faction of youths who were against the development of the community performed the act to give a negative image to the community.
“We use this medium to appeal to the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 6, Calabar, and the State Commissioner of Police in Cross River command to release the youths in their custody and pursue the real perpetrators of the act who are now at large,” the statement reads in part.
They lament that families who knew nothing about the incident have been subjected to hardship due to the incident and the situation.
The royal fathers assure that they will continue to partner with the state government to maintain peace, noting that Old Netim, a business hub in the Akamkpa Local Government Area, has been peaceful but has now become a shadow of its former self.
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