By Ushang Ewa
At least one is feared dead after soldiers from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army engaged suspected militants in a shootout Wednesday morning in Anantigha suburb of Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The suspected militants had appeared from a makeshift river port in the Qua river dressed in military camouflage with red ribbons on their heads when they encountered a team of soldiers attached to the ‘Operation Skolombo’, a sub security outfit coordinated by the Cross River State government and a gun battle ensued.
CrossRiverWatch Government House Correspondent who resides close to the area told the NewsRoom that; “I heard the gunshots while leaving home for office and I thought to myself, is this friendly or unfriendly fire. But, I shrugged it aside having recalled that the Governor had relocated the ’Operation Skolombo’ to Anantigha and they normally carried out drills.”
The incident occurred at Jebs street, a stone throw from the Aqua Vista resort.
The militants were repelled after one of them sustained gun wounds suspected to be fatal as the blood stains on the ground was much leading many to believe that he may have died from his wounds even though he limped off.
Captain Kayode Owolabi, the Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army confirmed the incident but said he could not confirm if there was any casualty.
However, he promised to brief the press upon confirming the details of the gun battle.