By: Edem Archibong, Calabar.
A policeman attached to the popular Atakpa police division opposite Watt Market in the heart of Calabar, Cross River State Capital ran a mock at the early hours of about 8.00 – 8.45Am as the police officer who is later identified as Inspector Effiong Bassey and shot at the direction of people coming to do petty trading at the roadside since today is a business free day.
Inspector Bassey, who shouted and ran out from the Atakpa police station gate, opened fire at the people without aiming while a stray bullet hit one woman who was walking towards the Atakpa police station.
An eye witness, Account, who refused to disclose her identity to this reporter, further narrated that the stray bullets hit others at different locations near the Calabar popular roundabout while other passersby ran for safety in different directions.
This situation continued for about twenty minutes before other police rescue teams were drafted to the scene of the incident.
Confirming the incident at about 1.30pm with the Police PPRO in charge of Cross River State Command, SP Irene Ugbo agreed that the Police Authority, including the AIG Zone 6, have all visited the victims at the hospital, and they are getting treatment while the diseases who died instantly, they have equally visited the brief family.
However, the Police Authority issued a Press statement less than five hours later to offer an apology over the ugly incident as the suspect, Inspector Effiong Bassey, has been arrested and under custody while an investigation to determine the remote cause of the incident will be made public.
The authority further appeals to the Atakpa Community, who are the hosts of the police station, to also remain calm until the outcome of the investigations.
Meanwhile, the Calabar road axis from the mobile filling station, police station, and Watt Market remains barricaded from both pedestrians and motorists for fear of reprisal attack on the police station by unknown attackers.
