Police Inspector shoots three civilians in Calabar

One of the three persons shot by a police Inspector, Effiong Bassey, this Sunday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has died from the bullet wounds.

The Cross River State Police Command whic confirmed the incident in a statement by the Command’s PPRO, Ugbo Irene, explained that the shooting happened in the early hours of Sunday at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Atakpa, Calabar.

According to her, Bassey who returned from his night duty at Ekondo Microfinance Bank and started to exhibit abnormal behaviour, as he refused to hand over the AK-47 rifle he was assigned and instead proceeded to block the station’s gate, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the premises.

The statement noted that despite attempts at peaceful dialogue to resolve the situation, the officer’s actions escalated, leading to the arrival of Tactical Units/Patrol teams whose presence and attempts led to the officer opening fire on bystanders who had been instructed to leave the area.

According to the statement, this resulted in three individuals being struck by the officer’s stray bullets, including Ijeoma Wilson Obot, a 41-year-old female, who later succumbed to her injuries.

It however pointed out that the other two victims, Charles Mkpang and another individual, are currently receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition.”

The statement however stated that the officer was eventually subdued, disarmed, and is now in police custody, adding that he is undergoing further investigation.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar, and the Cross River State Command Management Team have visited the hospital where the victims were receiving care, where the AIG made a donation to support the immediate treatment of the injured.

In its reaction, the Cross River Police Command has assured that police authorities were engaging with key stakeholders to ensure that the tension in the community is de-escalated and called on the families of the victims and the public to remain calm as the investigation into this unfortunate incident continues.

“The Cross River State Police Command is committed to ensuring that justice, fairness, and equity prevail, and the outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course,” the statement pledged.