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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has declared war on insecurity, launching a statewide “Unite Against Terror” campaign as government moves to confront terrorism, kidnapping, cultism and other emerging threats head-on.
The Governor sounded the alarm in Calabar during the inauguration of the Central Planning Committee for the 2026 Cross River State Security Summit, saying peace and safety must come first if the state will attract investment, grow tourism and secure its future.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Content Development and Archiving, Beatrice Akpala, Otu described security as “the bedrock of development.”
“Security is the foundation upon which development, investment, education, tourism, commerce and peaceful coexistence are built. Without security, no society can truly prosper,” Akpala quoted the Governor as saying.
Akpala, who doubles as chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the summit delivered the message at the DSS Conference Hall during the official kickoff of preparations for the summit themed “Unite Against Terror.”
Otu charged the committee to go beyond organising an event and instead drive a statewide movement for security awareness, intelligence sharing, vigilance and community participation. He called for `dedication, professionalism, creativity and integrity` in the assignment.
Also speaking, the State Director of DSS, Oluwole Faluyi, described `“Unite Against Terror”` as a strategic awareness campaign aimed at strengthening collaboration between government, security agencies and citizens to prevent terrorism, violent extremism, kidnapping and cultism.
“Security is a collaborative responsibility. It is not a one-man show; it is everybody’s business. Success depends on strong partnerships and the active involvement of all stakeholders,”` Faluyi said.
He commended Governor Otu for placing security at the center of his administration, noting that protecting lives and property remains the foundation for sustainable development in Cross River.
The summit is expected to assemble government officials, security chiefs, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society, youth and women groups, and the private sector to design practical strategies for lasting peace.
The government says the campaign will be rolled out across the 18 local government areas ahead of the summit, as Otu vows to make Cross River `uncomfortable for criminals and safe for investors.`
