By CrossRiverWatch admin
Gunmen suspected to be touts hired by a rival community in a land dispute, moments ago, gunned down a mobile policeman in Calabar.
CrossRiverWatch gathered that the Mopol was among his colleagues who were brought to provide cover for members of one of the communities who were working on the disputed land before he met his untimely death.
According to our sources at the scene of the incident, there has been a long standing dispute between neighbouring Ikot Omin and Ikot Ekpo communities over a piece of land.
The matter is also a subject of litigation with one of the parties, Ikot Omin claiming they got a favorable judgement from the Court of Appeal which Ikot Ekpo has not appealed.
Our reporter further gathered that Pamol, a company which was occupying a portion of the land allegedly vacated the place for Ikot Omin after their said victory at the Court of Appeal.
Consequently, Ikot Omin community mobilized to site today to do some work on the land. But suspecting a possible attack from their rival, they requested for police protection which occasioned the presence of the mobile policemen.
But while on duty, armed men suspected to be thugs hired by the rival Ikot Ekpo, attacked and shot one of the Mobile Police men who died on the spot.
The body of the Mopol was reportedly moved to the Ikot Ekpo Police station while tension has enveloped the community as the time of writing this report.
Cross River State Police Spokesman, DSP John Eluu told CrossRiverWatch that he was not yet aware of the development and quickly requested to reach the DPO of Ikot Ekpo Police station to get a briefing.