By CrossRiverWatch admin
No fewer than 15 lives have been lost in 48 hours to the ongoing war between members of two criminal gangs, the Baggars Confraternity and Mafians, a version of the Klans confraternity in Calabar, findings by CrossRiverWatch reveal.
This follows the yet to end war between the Klans confraternity and Black Axe confraternity which in less than a month has claimed over 10 lives too, bringing the count to about 20 in less than a month.
The hostility between the Baggars and Mafians sources say, began last Tuesday afternoon along Palm street where a strike team of Mafians attacked and killed a member of the Baggars gang along Palm street with his skull carved open with a machete and slashes along his stomach and arms which infuriated his colleagues who later carried out a reprisal attack with at least two mafians gunned down in Goldie and Yellow Duke street axis of Calabar South on Wednesday.
The killings continued Thursday, as 3 more were gunned down at Mbukpa, with 2 happening close to the Mbukpa market, 1 at Umo Orok near New Airport road and Bedwell, all before noon while a source said one more was killed at an undisclosed location around 9 p.m.
Another killing occurred later in the day along Palm Street by Mayne Avenue and 1 more was gunned down along Whitehouse street also known as Dan Archibong street, close to Nyong Edem street on Friday morning between 7:30 am and 8 am.
According to sources, some Baggars Thursday, converged at the CRUTECH pavilion to plan an attack on selected targets in school only for a combine team of the State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and Operation Skolombo in about 6 siren blaring vans chased them away following a distress call from the school security network as no fewer than 3 CRUTECH students have been lost to the ‘wars’.
One other person was said to have been killed at Etta-Agbor by Akim. He was said to have been axed badly around the chest region and left to die.
Shops in CRUTECH and around Ekpo Abasi, Yellow Duke, Atakpa, New Airport, Watt market, Bedwell, Egerton, Beach market, Calabar road, Mayne Avenue, Goldie and other major places in Calabar South now close earlier than usual to avert ‘eventualities’.
The fight according to reliable sources say the rivalry is for supremacy as to who controls ticketing for tricycles (keke) in major points in Calabar South.
These comes on the heels of similar killings due to a war between Klans confraternity and the Black Axe where a suspected gangster in Calabar, Friday, last week was gunned down at Marian close to Effanga Mkpa street, with sources saying it happened in the middle of peace talks between warring gangs.
The alleged gangster, unknown, according to sources, is said to be a victim of a precedent set during the early 2000’s following the Chaka Zulu’s war which saw the Black Axe gun down two Vikings members at the entrance to the venue of the peace talk to confirm whether they were truly prepared for it.
The war has been ongoing amidst serious armed robbery as a gang of five, last week Friday between the hours of 9 and 10 pm stormed Ekpo Abasi junction in a Volkswagen Golf car parked at a church, “Warriors Camp” a few metres away from the junction and began robbing shop to shop unknown to many until they fired a shot into the air which caused momentary pandemonium.
After the initial commotion, the Vigilante group in the axis and other strong hearted individuals mobilized and approached the robbers who jumped into their vehicle and sped off. Egerton, Ewa Ekeng, Inyang Ekeng, Hawkins, Mayne Avenue, Mount Zion, Orok, Ekpo Abasi are among streets being robbed daily between the hours of 8pm downwards.
To confirm what the Police are doing to restore peace and order, ASP John Eluu, Police Public Relations Officer Cross River Police Headquarters was called from our news room and he said: “We have arrested one suspect for the killer of the guy killed at Palm Street, I don’t know of other killings in the area let me call the Atakpa DPO for briefing, call me back please.”
Five hours later he was called his MTN line which our reporter spoke with him was off and twice his Glo line was called but he did not answer.
The major heat of the war is in Calabar South which has been very notorious for similar crimes over the years.
As it is, residents of Calabar are living and sleeping in fear as the war continues and the criminals are rampaging without hinder. Some residents even complained and accused the police of complicity in the debacle.
The new Police Commissioner has promised to bring the situation under control but for now that is still a promise that is yet to be fulfilled.