The Cross River State Police Command said on Tuesday that it had arrested three suspected armed robbers and cultists.
The suspects were arrested while allegedly planning a reprisal following the killing of a final-year student of Electrical Electronics Engineering of the Cross River University of Technology, James Jay, on Monday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, disclosed this in Calabar on Tuesday and identified the suspects as Bassey Edem Bassey, Daniel Epim David and Okon Effiong Awakeng.
She said, “On July 15, 2019, around 5.21pm, suspected armed robbers and cultists were planning to rob and use the proceeds to fund a reprisal on members of a rival cult.
“While acting on credible information, the personnel of the Uwanse Surveillance Team were mobilised. The hoodlums, on sighting the police, opened fire on them. The police personnel replied and the three suspects were arrested.
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“Exhibits recovered from them were one locally-made pistol, one cartridge and one dagger, which were all recovered during the exchange of gunfire. Investigation is ongoing after which the suspects will be charged to court.”
Meanwhile, three corpses were found in different parts of Calabar on Tuesday following the killing of James by suspected cultists.
Although it could not be ascertained if the corpses were victims of reprisal by a rival cult, residents alleged that their killing might not be unconnected to the murder of James on the campus of the CRUTECH on Monday by suspected cultists said to be members of the Axe Men.
The corpse of a woman was found at 8 Miles, while another woman’s body was discovered at Ediba in the Calabar municipality, and yet another body of a man was found on the Murtala Muhammed Highway at Big Qua.
James was said to be a member of the Klans cult.
He lived on Technology Street in Calabar South before his death and hailed from the Yala Local Government Area of the state. [PUNCH]
