The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a police officer, Inspector Effiong Bassey, for shooting and killing at least one person while injuring several others at the Atakpa Divisional Police Headquarters in Calabar on Sunday morning.
Similarly, a medical doctor and a pharmacist from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, along with two others, are in police custody over the alleged murder of a 20-year-old security guard in Bauchi State.
Calabar Shooting Incident
While the police confirmed one casualty, eyewitnesses claim more than one person may have died from the bullets fired by Inspector Bassey.
Reports indicate that the officer, after opening fire within the Atakpa police station, moved into the streets, causing panic among traders and residents around Watt Market. Many, including his fellow officers, were injured as they fled for safety. He was eventually subdued, disarmed, and arrested.
In a statement, the Cross River State Police Command expressed deep regret over the incident and extended condolences to the deceased’s family while pledging support for the injured victims receiving treatment.
The statement, issued by Police Public Relations Officer Irene Ugbo, read:
“On March 23, 2025, at approximately 5:55 a.m., Inspector Effiong Bassey, who had just returned from night duty at Ekondo Microfinance Bank, exhibited abnormal behavior. He refused to surrender his assigned AK-47 rifle and blocked the station’s entrance, preventing movement in and out. Attempts to de-escalate the situation failed, leading to an unfortunate shooting incident.”
“The officer, suspected to be mentally unstable, fired indiscriminately, injuring three people. One of them, a 41-year-old woman, Ijeoma Wilson Obot, later succumbed to her injuries, while the other two victims, Charles Mkpang and another individual, are receiving treatment and are in stable condition.”
The statement further disclosed that the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 6 Headquarters, and the state police management team visited the hospital where the victims are being treated. The AIG also made a donation to support their immediate medical care.
The police urged the public to remain calm, assuring that a thorough investigation is underway, and justice will be served.
