Kidnapping: C’River dangles N1m on whistle blowers

In a bid to check kidnapping and armed robbery, Governor Ben Ayade has issued an executive order to reward volunteers of information that can lead to the arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers in Cross River State.
The executive order stipulates that “anybody who whistle-blows on an armed robber or a kidnapper and by whose intelligence or investigation that armed robber or kidnapper is found to be true, that person is entitled to N1 million.”
Ayade issued the order when Hafiz Inuwa, the state Commissioner of Police visited him recently, saying “from today, there is a whistle blowing law in Cross River that guarantees you N1million when you discover an armed robber, somebody who is in illegal possession of firearms, or somebody you know is a kidnapper or harbouring a kidnapped victim or offer any information leading to the arrest of an armed robber or kidnapper.”
Frowning on a situation where people arrested on issues relating to armed robbery or kidnapping find their way back into street without prosecution, Ayade said: “We will give you the financial support to continue to feed them until the law takes its full course.”
Noting that the police have the capacity and intelligence to determine when one is falsely accused so that the innocent does not unnecessarily get trapped, the governor intimated that “anybody caught in the act or there is sufficient evidence that corroborates that action, that he is involved in any armed robbery and kidnapping, it is our responsibility as public servants who are in charge of the security of this state to ensure that such dangerous people do not get back to the society , unless the law finds them innocent.”
Ayade who hinted that “Cross Riverians are not known for trouble, argued that 99 percent of criminals arrested in the state are traceable to other states.
He assured the new police commissioner of his administration’s readiness to offer support, as Cross River will not compromise the recommendation by the Canadian website where Calabar, because of its safe nature was selected among three safest cities for Canadians who wish to come to Nigeria.
On his part, Inuwa assured of the readiness of the police to work with anybody willing to assist in ensuring the safety of residents and their properties.
“I have come to work and I am ready to work day and night. I don’t believe in sitting down in the office. I must achieve my mandate,” he said.