By Ushang Ewa
A 21 year old final year student of University of Calabar (UNICAL), Joseph Etim-Ita Archibong has been killed by armed robbers during an attack on the family in Calabar two weeks ago.
A three man gang had gained access into Mr. Archibong’s compound located at 22, Duncan street in Calabar South local government area at about 2:00AM that fateful Wednesday and shot him after attempts to wrestle with them failed a family source told Vanguard Newspapers.
“He (Joseph), did not know that one person was behind him because he tried to stop them while they were about leaving and they had another person in a waiting car outside but unfortunately one of the armed bandit behind shot him as he was trying to struggle with the masked one not knowing that one more was behind.
“Although he died four days after because he was shot with a locally made gun, we didn’t know that the hospital would not be able to help, if we knew we would have gone traditional to remove those bullets because they were pellet.
“Like I said earlier he died four days after he sustained the gun shot injury at the Public hospital and he would be buried on the 4th (Friday) at Etak Ukana, Akwa Ikot Effanga in Akpabuyo local government area. Since the incident happened it has been difficult for the parents to stay here because of the trauma. I just pray that they recover from this because he is in his final year at the University of Calabar,” the source said.
The Police when contacted, confirmed the incidence and said three people have been arrested in connection to the robbery and murder of Mr. Archibong.
“Three persons were arrested by Efut Police division and they are currently in custody and investigation is still ongoing to get to the root of the matter after which they will be charged to court for the law to take its course,” said the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Irene Ugbo.
Ugbo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police added that: “We have given them grace to bring out all arms and ammunition’s in their possession but this time we are going really hard on criminals because the period of grace is over and we are leaving no stone unturned as all criminals will be flushed out no matter their hide out or modus operandi.”
Meanwhile, there has been an upsurge in the rate of crime in some parts of the Calabar metropolis which some residents have blamed on the new regulation on taxis and commercial tricycles in the metropolis.
The State Security Advisee, Mr. Jude Ngaji had recently announced that only taxis marked appropriately and coated in blue with white stripes will operate twenty four hours while those not coated usually referred to as ‘off color’ will stop their operations by 6:00PM and commercial tricycles popularly referred to as ‘Keke’ will close by 5:00PM.
And, some residents who spoke to CrossRiverWatch say since the policy came into effect, areas such as Edibe Edibe, Egerton, Fenton, Bay side, Hawkings and adjoining axis have known no peace as the number of robberies have increased.
“Now, those boys don’t even rob at the dead of the night, they begin by 6, 7 and 8:00PM when the Policemen are mounted on the road collecting bribe,” said a resident of Garden street who identified himself as Etete Etim.
Also, another who preferred anonymity but resident at Chambley by Edibe Edibe said that: “These guys have no joy and it is because of SSA (Mr. Ngaji) policy. Now, they can’t hustle at night again so they resort to armed robbery and petty thievery.
“Recently, I was hosting friends in a meeting when at about 6:00PM I was told to lock up and send them away as they were robbing house to house and compound to compound.”
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