Boko Haram in Akwa Ibom: The Kabiru Sokoto connection and his stay in the state

Information gathered by THE INK Newspaper last week indicates that the alleged mastermind of Madalla bomb blast was in Uyo and spent about four months in Uyo Prison located along Barracks road until renewed security challenges beagan to surface in the state. While he was there, the quiet amd soft speaking Kabiru Sokoto is said to have made several calls with the help of the hand set of one of the prison warders who is alleged to have been sympathetic to the Bomber. A highly placed prison authority at Uyo Prisons informed ou reporter while pleading for strict confidence.

Our source said while Kabiru Sokoto was at the Uyo Prisons, there was a heavy presence of security around Barracks road as according to the source, some Aduma men made up of both Army and Navy were stationed in a certain police van screening all vehicles coming into and going out of the Barracks road premises. Our source  had however informed that if BOKO HARAM comes to wreck havoc in the state, it could be as a result of the Sokoto stay in Uyo were our source emphasized had made series of contact as he is said to have always been telling his associates that he was in Uyo Prisons.

It was learnt that Kabiru Sokoto at a time in Uyo Prison had boasted that he has several thousands of phone numbers off hand and can call anyone he will so wishes to call.

Sokoto is said to have constituted several security challenges that security agencies in the state began to be worried and had to prevail on the state Governor Godswill Akpabio to hurriedly send the man away from the state. A very highly placed security Chief who is still serving in the state said, while craving for anonymity that upon several pressures that were mounted, the state Governor Godswill Akpabio had to approve the use of an helicopter to ferry Sokoto away from the state in the night after the wicked bomber must have made enough contacts and calls in the state then. This position on how Kabiru Sokoto was taken away from the state was cemented by a very highly placed and reliable Prisons Warder working in Uyo Prison along Barracks road.

Meanwhile, some highly placed security personnel have questioned why the state Governor, Godswill Akpabio will allow Sokoto to come to Uyo Prison which has been adjudged to be very weak and can aid the escape of a suspect. 

Retired army personnel who lent his voice to the BOKO Haram concern in the state with relationship to Kabiru Sokoto’s visit said, it was unfair for Akpabio to have agreed that Sokoto be brought to Akwa Ibom. He said that did not present the Governor to be acting to serve the interest of his people. Our source however expressed worry that with the recent threat from BOKO Haram, it could be that the dreaded sect had made some contacts that may allow it to carry out its wicked act on innocent citizens of the state. 

He further called on security agencies to rise up to challenge the monster called BOKO Haram in Akwa Ibom state. He maintained that the job of securing the state and making it safe is a collective responsibility and that politician should not seek to play politics with it.