From Tina Agosi Todo, Calabar
The Cross River State Police Command has dismissed Inspector Effiong Bassey following a shooting incident in Calabar that left one person dead and two others injured.

Confirming the development, spokesperson for the Command, SP Irene Ugbo, said Bassey, who was reported to be mentally unstable, has also been charged to court and remanded at the Afokang Correctional Centre.

Addressing journalists on the matter yesterday, Ugbo cautioned media outlets against publishing unverified claims, particularly allegations suggesting the police had abandoned the victims of the incident.

She explained that from the day of the incident, the police had remained in contact with both the victims and the bereaved family, providing financial assistance and medical support. “We visited the deceased’s family the same day it happened and also went to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital where the victims were receiving treatment,” she said.

Ugbo noted that one of the victims, who was shot in the neck, had undergone a successful surgery and was recovering steadily. “We gave financial support from the onset. At no time did we abandon anyone,” she added.

However, when The Guardian visited one of the injured victims, Charles Mkpang, his family declined to speak to the press. Some of Mkpang’s friends alleged that the police had not lived up to their promises, claiming that only N50,000 had been deposited for his treatment despite the need for further surgery.

The incident has continued to draw public reaction, with social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, condemning the actions of the dismissed officer and demanding justice for the victims as well as accountability from the police authorities.