Residents of Calabar in Cross River State have expressed concern over the annual Calabar Carnival following insecurity in the city.

The residents particularly expressed fear that the spate of kidnapping in the capital city would rob the shine off the annual carnival scheduled to commence on December 1, hence that the government and security agencies should step up efforts at securing the state.

Recall that medical practitioners, lawyers, clerics, academicians and other high profile personalities have been targets of kidnappers recently in the state.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) recently called off a 40-day industrial action over the abduction of one of its members, Prof Ekanem Ephraim, who was abducted from her private medical facility in Calabar.

A resident, Mr Abel Achor, attributed the reason for the increase in the cases of abduction to hunger, and called on the government to create the necessary environment for businesses to thrive.

Achor said, "My stand is that if the government cannot provide the needed jobs for the unemployed, they should at least ensure an environment for businesses to thrive."

Mr Emmanuel Owan, another resident, who described the security challenge as unfortunate, feared that it posed danger for investors coming into the state.

He said if nothing serious was done, the carnival would be the first casualty of the security challenge in the state.

Meanwhile, the government and the police have constantly assured that everything was being done to arrest the security challenge, particularly kidnapping.

Gov Bassey Otu had during the swearing in of his 31 commissioners, warned kidnappers and other criminals, disclosing that his administration had procured technology to curb the menace, and added, "Enough is enough."

The state's Commissioner of Police (CP), Gyogon Grimah, who said some suspects had been arrested in connection with kidnapping in the state, reiterated his resolve to rid the state of crime. (NAN)