Pandemonium erupted at Atakpa near the popular Calabar Watt Market in Calabar South local government area of Cross River State on Sunday, following the killing of four passersby by an armed policeman who allegedly opened fire on them.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the police fired several shots into the air and the bullets mistakenly hit the victims, killing them instantly.
“The victims were innocent and passersby who did not have any quarrel with the police officer. I suspect the officer ran amok,” an eyewitness stated.
The shooting caused panic among residents and traders in the busy commercial area.
This led to the police barricading the road, for fear of reprisal attack by families and friends of the victims whose identities were yet to be known.
Another eyewitness, Mrs. Theresa Etim described the scene as terrifying, as residents of the area and traders flee at different directions shortly after the shootings.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear as at the time of filing in this report.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cross River State Command, SP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident while speaking with LEADERSHIP, “It’s true, we are at the scene of the incident.
“The officer misbehaved we suspect he has become mentally unstable.This is what we suspect at a moment,” Ugbo said.
The PPRO stressed that the Command was trying to unravel the mystery behind the shooting of the innocent victims.
