By Ushang Ewa and Inyali Peter
A Police Inspector, Edet Archibong has died from gun wounds following a shoot out between the Police and suspected gangsters Tuesday night at Nkwa street off Eyamba street in Calabar South local government area findings by CrossRiverWatch reveal.
Two Police patrol vans were also razed by the gangsters whom CrossRiverWatch gathered numbered well over 30 with information from sources suggesting that they are members of the Baggars confraternity who ambushed the security teams as a sort of retaliation for the effective policing of the area of late.
The event which took place around 9:00 PM also saw one Sergeant Ibonga hit, with the Police saying that he is currently responding to treatment at a hospital (name withheld).
The Deputy Commissioner of Police Administration, DCP Tunde Gbolarumi told Journalists in a press briefing that; “8 suspects arrested in connection with the crime and investigations is ongoing and expeditiously.”
The officers, attached to the X-Squad were on joint patrol with colleagues from Operation Skolombo when they engaged the gangsters the Police said.
When CrossRiverWatch visited the scene at about 9:30 AM Wednesday morning, the razed vehicle had been towed with residents living in fear.
Charred remains of clothing, and pieces of broken Amber warning light littered the surface which had gone dark probably from the fire.
In a related development, the Police says over 60 boys attacked a van with policemen attached to the Atakpa division at Bogobiri by Queen Duke at about 9:00 PM which they successfully repelled and killed 2 of them, arrested 1, and wounded several others.
Several weapons including one English pistol, two locally made pistols and 2 empty cartridges were recovered the Police said.
Also, at about 10:40 PM at Bogobiri area, a Police Inspector (names withheld) while on patrol struck fear in the hearts of a suspected gangster who dropped a locally made pistol with one live cartridge and fled the Police said.