Personally, the greatest danger along the Tai Ogoni-Akwa Ibom road is not the criminals themselves, but the negligence of those who should protect the citizens. For years, a short stretch of less than one kilometer has become so notorious that those who frequent that road now call it the “Sambisa of Rivers State.” Passengers grow tense as they approach it, some even pleading with drivers to speed up, haunted by the memory of past robberies and attacks.
Despite the public outcry and occasional interventions, the authorities have failed to provide a lasting solution. Instead, their reluctance has emboldened criminals, who now stage brazen daylight robberies. Some drivers even allege that these attacks occur between police checkpoints, with officers watching from a distance. Worse still, drivers claim that those who refuse to “settle” with police officers at checkpoints are deliberately left uninformed when a robbery is underway.
As a concerned citizen, I find this deeply troubling. Why are police officers more interested in distractions outside their duty while commuters are robbed just meters away?
This raises pressing questions: Have successive Local Government Chairmen and Police Commissioners not heard that this menace persists? What exactly is the responsibility of council members, chiefs, community leaders, and security heads if not to guarantee the safety of lives and property? While incidents of rape in the area have thankfully declined, other violent crimes remain unchecked.
Yes, checkpoints have made some difference, but checkpoints alone are not enough. With a retired admiral at the helm of affairs, one would expect military-level strategy and decisive leadership to root out these criminals once and for all. The police themselves must also be reoriented to prioritize saving lives above every other consideration.
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This is a call to the Tai Local Government Chairman, the Council of Chiefs, the Commissioner of Police, and all stakeholders to act decisively. If they fail, their silence will only be interpreted as indirect support for these crimes. Just as a child normalizes bad behavior when unchecked, criminals will continue to thrive in the absence of real deterrence.
The police have tried, but trying is not the same as doing enough, especially when human lives are at stake. These criminals are not invisible; they can be traced, arrested, and prosecuted if only the authorities are willing to do the right thing.
If in doubt, visit the motor park at Eleme Junction, just under the flyover, where vehicles load passengers for Eket, Akwa Ibom state. Speak with the drivers. They will, without hesitation, share their painful experiences of that dangerous stretch.
By now, we should all understand that the name “Sambisa” is not a label that should be allowed to stick to any community or state. That in itself is a shameful indictment of neglect. That being said, I rest my case for now.
