It was like a scene from a horror movie as a suspected mentally ill police inspector attached to the Atakpa Police Division, shot and killed three persons around the popular Watt Market in Calabar,
Cross River State.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the tragic incident, said “the Inspector came from his beat, and all of a sudden he started misbehaving.
“We don’t know the cause of his irrational behaviour. He started shooting sporadically into the air, and telling people not to come near him.
“In the process, three people were hit. One woman is dead right now, two are in the hospital and in critical condition. The Inspector has been arrested. He’s in our custody.”
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However, she added that the area where the shooting occurred has been cordoned.
Sources said the police officer had shown signs of mental health challenge in the past, but was not made to seek medical help.
“He came out of the police station and suddenly, he started shooting sporadically into the air. At that moment, many of the policemen started running, with some scaling the fence of the station to the other side of the road.
“When he stood up, he walked towards the road and then started shooting again. Three persons were hit by stray bullets,” the sources narrated.
While some roadside traders were seen in clusters discussing the incident, others disappeared with their wares for fear of their lives
