Two Serving Commissioners Fingered In Vandalization Of Calabar South


Two serving commissioners in Governor Ben Ayade’s government have been fingered in last weekend vandalization and looting of properties at the headquarters of Calabar South local government of Cross River state. Reports say the council lost properties worth over N500 million to the raid.

Anonymous sources at Anantigha community, where the council headquarters is located, said the two Commissioners had visited the now ramshackled edifice shortly after the destruction and looting.


“On Saturday, 24th of October at about 7pm, the hoodlums numbering over 300 and some in keke Napep, carrying 20 liters of fuel made their way to the council headquarters, singing war songs which suggested that they were mobilised by some serving commissioners to loot the council and set it ablaze to give the impression that the sitting Chairman, Mrs Esther Bassey, was not popular.

“They wore steel helmets and illuminating vest, broke into the chairman’s office and carted away newly installed furniture, air-conditions and other valuable items,” our source said.

The eyewitness account further said the irate youths armed with guns, matchets and other dangerous weapons moved over to the Legislative Chambers and the administrative block where they looted tables, air-conditions , fridges, safes, chairs and other personal items.



“They were chanting, ‘clear from our way, we are out to kill and dump the corpse for Esther Bassey…we would have liked to burn down the council but for pity just loot and go.”

According to him, the two Commissioners, at about 7pm same day, drove to the vandalised council headquarters and sued for peace but urged them to keep up the pressure against the bad government of Calabar South.

Also speaking, top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Calabar South, Asuquo Etim, said “the attack on the council is not ordinary but masterminded by some influential people in the government of the state. In all the vandalisation, looting and burning of government and private properties in Cross River,it was only Calabar South headquarters, out of the 18 councils in the state, which was affected.

“There is more to it and I believe it may not be unconnected with the fall out of the tussle that led to the emergence of the sitting Chairman and other officers and the power play on who controls affairs of the council. For me the Calabar South Council Chairman, Hon Esther Bassey, has performed predictably well in terms of governance and this crisis is unnecessary but just sheer selfishness and ego”.

Etim advised all to sheath their sword for the interest of peace but advised the state government to caution the vandals and their sponsors to focus on the collective development of the state rather than running from pillar to post.

When contacted, the Calabar South Council Chairman, Mrs Bassey, confirmed the attack on the council and put the properties destroyed at over N500 million. She however said she was not actually suspecting anyone but called on all hands to be on deck to move the council area forward.

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