Following Tuesday’s clash between the Navy and Police in Calabar, there are indications that the naval operatives used a General Purpose Machine Gun to bring down a section of the Akim Police Barracks in the Cross River State capital.

Trouble started earlier on Tuesday when an unidentified naval rating was shot in the left shoulder a by policeman over an alleged traffic offence.

The situation later degenerated as a section of the Akim Police Station, which is located along the busy IBB Way, was allegedly burnt by some naval personnel, while two vehicles were also set ablaze.

It was learnt that two policemen identified as Sergeant Odudu and Corporal Emmanuel Mbang were shot dead at close range while a third policeman simply identified as Ibiam was shot in the left eye.

An eyewitness, Samson Inok, said at least three naval operatives emerged from a nearby gutter and shot the policemen who were trying to escape from the Police Station.

Inok said, “The navy operatives came out from the gutter and started shooting at a very close range with their guns while a GPMP which was mounted some distance away was firing at the station. This is not an ordinary gun that they use for this kind of small clash. Those that shot the policemen came out from the gutter.

“They accessed the police station through the underground water drainage channel. The policemen that died were shot at a close range by naval personnel that emerged from the gutter. They were running out for safety thinking that the naval men were far away.”

Meanwhile, Governor Ben Ayade on Wednesday hastily convened a meeting with representatives of the Nigerian Navy and police to address the deadly clash between the two security agencies.

Two police officers and a naval officer who were injured in the clash were said to be recuperating at different medical facilities in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

At the emergency meeting, Mr. Ayade confirmed that the violence had been neutralised by Wednesday morning, condoled with the two agencies, and promised adequate compensation for victims.

“I want to assure Cross River residents and indeed Nigerians, that the whole area is calm after the unfortunate incident,” Mr. Ayade told reporters after emerging from the meeting.

Salihu Jubril, Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, expressed deep regrets over the incident and vowed tough sanctions on errant officers.

“Let me assure you that the culprits will be brought to book, properly investigated and appropriate sanctions meted on them,” Mr. Jubril, a commodore, said.

Hafiz Inuwa, the commissioner of police in Cross Rivers, said the development, though unfortunate, would not affect Navy-Police relationship going forward.

 

Source: Punchng.com; Premiumtimesng.com

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