by crossriverwatch admin
Ibrahim, a Destiny Child Center inmate, an orphanage owned by Mrs. Obioma Imoke, wife of the Cross River State Governor was recently shot by a policeman on guard duty at the home.
The 11-year-old boy in the company of other inmates had gone to the Millennium Park to watch the daily musical concert at the on-going Christmas Festival and returned at about 9 pm and on arrival at the Destiny Child’s Center at 8 Miles they were herded into their hall of residence.
One of the boys was said to have complained of heat inside the hall because electricity was out and demanded that the door be opened so that he could go outside and take some fresh air but the police guard, Constable David Ajah was said to have told the boy to remain indoors causing the boy to object and started shaking the door.
Our source said when the boy started shaking the door, the policeman became offended and told him to stop and get away from the door but the boy continued to shake the door and threw ‘Eba’ at the policeman . “This infuriated the policeman and he opened fire at the door lock so that he could get in and drag out the boy and beat him and he fired four times at the lock”.
Some of the bullets, our source said hit Ibrahim who was lying in bed and lodged inside his intestine. He was rushed to the Teaching Hospital but because of the doctors’ strike, he was taken to the General Hospital and later taken away to the Police Hospital in Calabar.
Attempts by CrossRiverWatch to speak with the Executive Director of the Center, Tammy Kammonke were not successful as several calls to her phone did not connect.
Mr. Hogan Bassey, the Police Public Relations Officer said he was yet to be briefed on the matter but a child rights lawyer, Barrister James Ibor said it is horrifying that a police constable who by the rules of the Police is banned from bearing arms is given a gun to guard a home where children reside.
“That policeman deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life because shooting a lock with live bullet just to bring out a boy for punishment is the height of irresponsibility”. Ibor said.
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