Soldiers raid militants’ base, kill one

Gill Nsa-Abasi, Calabar - 27.01.2008

A team of soldiers raided the hide out of suspected militants in the suburb of Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State where militants were said to be dwelling and secretly training.

The hide out is specifically at the creeks of Anantigha, behind the abattoir in the area. When soldiers raided the place at the weekend and set ablaze the tents and sheds erected there, the suspects engaged them in a gun battle and the superior gun fire of the soldiers shot dead one of the suspects.

Following the incident, the abattoir had been closed down temporarily and the police had been deployed to the place. A team of policemen were seen on Saturday when Sunday Tribune visited. Some residents who are still gripped with fear identified the dead person as a notorious hoodlum in the area, popularly known as “Obong-owo”.

The late Obong-owo and his group were alleged to be using the hide out to carry out nefarious activities and sometimes kidnap innocent people whom they hypnotize of their belongings then raped and stripped them.

Local government chairman of Calabar South, Honourable Andem Ekpo Bassey, who confirmed the incident after visiting the place described them as hoodlums and not militants.

Police Public Relations Officer could not be reached in his office at the weekend nor through his phone line as at the time of filing this report.