CALABAR, — The Cross River State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the mob killing of a man accused of attempted robbery in Calabar, condemning the incident as an unlawful act that undermines due process and complicates criminal investigations.
The arrests were made by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as the Dragon Squad, led by CSP Chukwuma Ogini, police said. The suspects are being held at the command headquarters in Diamond Hill, as investigators prepare the case for prosecution.
Police said the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the Abangasang area of Calabar, around Mbora Street, after the deceased allegedly attempted to rob a woman. According to the command, an angry crowd beat the suspect unconscious before operatives arrived to halt the assault. He was rushed to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where he was pronounced dead.
During the intervention, officers recovered a Beretta pistol loaded with three live 9mm rounds, the command said, adding that the deceased’s identity had not been formally confirmed as of Sunday. The body was evacuated to the UCTH mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while a comprehensive investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the killing and the recovered firearm.
Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua strongly criticised the mob action and urged residents to stop taking the law into their hands, stressing that suspects apprehended by civilians must be handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution. The command appealed for credible information from the public to aid ongoing inquiries.
