By Jonathan Ugbal
An unidentified officer of the Cross River State Fire Service and trainees on Wednesday beat up a staff of the State’s Internal Revenue Service, CRSIRS, Mr. Peter Agba while he was photographing vehicles of the service at a mechanic workshop in Calabar.
The mechanic workshop is located inside the fire and rescue service operational office along Mary Slessor Avenue in Calabar.
Mr. Agba works as a dispatch rider for the service and went to the workshop alongside three of his colleagues upon the instruction of the service Chairman, Mr. Akpanke Ogar at about 1 PM on Wednesday. A Senior staff in the CRSIRS in charge of vehicles, Mr. Williams Agba led the team of four which also includes two other drivers namely Justine and Emmanuel, who are attached to the Director Administration.
“The Chairman asked them to go return the vehicles which they had paid Mr. Ikong to fix, back to the office so they can be utilized. But, when they got there, they discovered that he had not fixed the vehicles and so they were asked to snap them,” a source familiar with the incident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told CrossRiverWatch.
Mr. Ikong, a native of Obudu Local Government Area is the owner of the mechanic workshop. He is said to have traveled for a while now and has not been around.
The four vehicles given for repairs are one blue Ford Transit, a Jinbei Haise 14-seater donated by Eco Bank, a Toyota Avensis, and a Toyota Hilux.
Trouble began when Mr. Peter took the photo of the first vehicle and while moving on to the second, was stopped by an official of the Fire Service who inquired who he was.
He is said to have directed the official to Mr. Williams who was already talking to another Fire Service Officer and that provoked a heated argument that led to the officer ordering trainees to beat up Mr. Peter.
“The assault left him with injuries in his hands, neck and pains around his hip and back,” the source said.
When contacted, Mr. Peter refused divulging information about the incident and directed this Reporter to the Chairman of the service. Several calls to his known line did not connect.
However, CrossRiverWatch visited Mr. Peter’s residence, nearly 30 kilometers away from the scene of the incident. He insisted that he will not speak on the issue as it was already being handled by his office. The injuries he sustained were also visible.
Meanwhile, the Cross River Fire Service says it is yet to be made aware of the incident.
The Service spokesman, Mr. Peter Ewona told CrossRiverWatch after a visit to the administrative office that he was yet to be briefed on the matter and promised to get back when that happened.
However, another officer of the service who says he heard what happened told CrossRiverWatch that the assault may have happened because the IRS Staff did not introduce themselves and their mission before they proceeded in taking photographs.
“We are paramilitary. Of course, if you come to our base and start taking pictures, we will not like that. I am sure if they had communicated properly, he (Peter) would not have been beaten like I heard,” the officer, (name withheld) said.
As of press time, another source at the CRSIRS said Mr. Williams was asked to document the incident and file for appropriate actions to be taken which may include the notification of the Head of Service of the State.
He is said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.