A six-man gang of armed robbers have raided several shops in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, causing panic in the metropolis.It was gathered that the incident, which occurred on Friday, also created a stampede.
It was further learnt that a large number of the residents sustained injuries and later went to the Accident and Emergency Ward as well as the Cardiothoracic Unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
It was said that no fewer than 15 critically injured persons, who were victims of the robbery, went to the hospital for treatment.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the robbery, which started around 5pm, was the outcome of security lapses as the police were busy dispatching officers to various local government areas for the governorship and the House of Assembly elections.
Two policemen attached to United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited were reportedly shot, while one of them, whose identity could not be ascertained, was said to have died.
It was gathered that the robbers stormed supermarkets, a mobile phone dealer, pharmacies, filing stations as well as an electronic shop.
They were said to have arrived for the operation in a stolen vehicle and shot sporadically, injuring about 15 persons in the process.
Our correspondent learnt that the robbers were abandoned street children that had over the years grown to become hoodlums known as skolombos boys in Calabar.
An eyewitness, Obiora John, said the armed group operated in different parts of Calabar for over two hours without interception by the police.
The witness added that the vehicle was driven by a young lady.
John said, “They operated from the Ekorinim area of Calabar, raiding phone shops, pharmacies, and supermarkets and filling stations without any police interception.
“They started around 5pm and they shot people as they operated in different parts of Calabar.
“As you can see, the UCTH is overwhelmed with victims of gunshot injuries.”
One of the victims, who identified himself as Olu, and is currently receiving treatment at the UCTH, said he had gone to one of the affected pharmacies to make supplies when the armed robbers came.
Olu said, “I went to supply goods and in less than five minutes, two armed men came in and one of them shot me.
“After robbing the shop they went to other places around Howel Street and Mayne Avenue.”
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident, adding that the police eventually intervened and brought the situation under control.
Bassey said, “We were able to chase them away. They abandoned their vehicles and from the items we recovered so far from the car, we will get them.
“They knew we were busy sorting out security arrangement for the elections when they struck. Well, we are going to get them very soon.”
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