Over 10 persons were feared killed and several others injured when Naval personnel and police men clashed in Calabar, Cross River State Akim police Station opposite a military Barracks.
A policeman, who escaped death by the whiskers told Daily Sun that the police station, including the armory was completely razed.
He said trouble started yesterday afternoon when a police traffic warden stopped a Naval officer who got angry and ordered his boy to beat him.
He said: “As the Naval personal were battering the traffic officer, a deputy Superintendent of Police who was passing by tried to settle the dispute, but the naval personnel descended on him as well.
“A senior police officer contacted the commander in charge of the unit. We thought the matter was over until around 8.pm when some Naval personnel stormed Akim police station and started shooting at officers and visitors at the station.
An eye witness Mr Denniz King reported that:
It all started close to the Naval Barracks where police and civilians had a brawl (Keke Man).
So the centary in the barracks came out and told them to move away from the barracks and settle elsewhere, But nobody paid attention to him. So at that he fired a shot at the air to alert them they were in a barrack and they shifted.
On hearing the shots, the police pounced on the naval officer and a shot was fired at him. So then on that the officer was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Naval officers now matched to Akim station to inquire and know why they would do such an act, but note at this time they weren't with weapons. O reaching the station the naval officers were chased by the police men and also fired shots at them.
After that the naval officers now called for backup and it was then they advanced towards the station and shots were exchanged rapidly from both parties with that of the naval officers dominating that of the police officers.
And it was also said that the SARS caused the whole issue because they came as backup and for the police and fired at the naval officers and that was what triggered them. But so far the rumors of seven people being dead, that i am not sure.
What i'm sure of is one police officer was shot dead. Because while the whole thing was hitting up he came out and was shouting "where dem dey..? Who be Navy?" and a bullet hit him just immediately after the whole chanting from him and he fell and for over 30mins he was on the ground without any movement noticed from him.
A Benz car was burnt by the gate in the station and also a police van that was shot definitely at the fuel tank exploded and caught fire that also burnt part of the front of the Station.
And also the traffic stand at the stadium was burnt.
An eye witness Mr Denniz King reported that:
It all started close to the Naval Barracks where police and civilians had a brawl (Keke Man).
So the centary in the barracks came out and told them to move away from the barracks and settle elsewhere, But nobody paid attention to him. So at that he fired a shot at the air to alert them they were in a barrack and they shifted.
On hearing the shots, the police pounced on the naval officer and a shot was fired at him. So then on that the officer was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Naval officers now matched to Akim station to inquire and know why they would do such an act, but note at this time they weren't with weapons. O reaching the station the naval officers were chased by the police men and also fired shots at them.
After that the naval officers now called for backup and it was then they advanced towards the station and shots were exchanged rapidly from both parties with that of the naval officers dominating that of the police officers.
And it was also said that the SARS caused the whole issue because they came as backup and for the police and fired at the naval officers and that was what triggered them. But so far the rumors of seven people being dead, that i am not sure.
What i'm sure of is one police officer was shot dead. Because while the whole thing was hitting up he came out and was shouting "where dem dey..? Who be Navy?" and a bullet hit him just immediately after the whole chanting from him and he fell and for over 30mins he was on the ground without any movement noticed from him.
A Benz car was burnt by the gate in the station and also a police van that was shot definitely at the fuel tank exploded and caught fire that also burnt part of the front of the Station.
And also the traffic stand at the stadium was burnt.
“The Naval personnel did not stop at shooting at people, they set the police station, including the armory and suspects in the cell ablaze.
“ Over 10 persons were killed. I know of three policemen who were confirmed dead. Many suspects in the cell died in the inferno. I narrowly escaped death. Few of us who took to our heels survived but many others sustained injuries of varying degrees. A witness, John Bolus said: “It was like a war-torn zone. I thought it was another civil war. I was hearing the cacophony of gun shots and I took to my heels. I think the government should do something about it. The Navy should submit to the constitution.”
When contacted Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said he had not been briefed. Meanwhile, the Naval authorities said, last night, only one person was shot. According to them, it was a minor incident involving a Naval officer and a policeman, which was later resolved.
Sparqlzzz News.
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