The police in Cross River State have taken disciplinary action against officers involved in escorting a suspected cultist who was filmed firing gunshots from a moving vehicle in Calabar. According to police spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah, the officers were identified and disciplined in accordance with police procedures. The incident sparked public concern and criticism after a viral video showed the suspected cultist, allegedly the "Vikings number one man" at the Cross River University of Science and Technology, firing shots into the air as the vehicle moved through a street.
The viral video, shared on Facebook by Nsemo Offiong, showed a young man pulling down the windscreen of a Toyota Land Cruiser and firing several shots into the air as the vehicle moved through a street in Calabar. Some men inside the vehicle were dressed in police camouflage, while youths dressed in white shirts and trousers, with their faces masked, were seen trailing the vehicle. People could also be heard chanting "Vikings" as the vehicle moved through the street. The procession disrupted traffic, with vehicles painted in Cross River's blue-and-white colours seen giving way to the convoy.
The suspected cultist, who allegedly admitted to being the "Vikings No. 1" in the university, told investigators in another video that he was embarking on a carnival float to mark his sign-out from the university and official handover to another person. He claimed that he rented the vehicle for N150,000 per day and had no licence to possess a firearm. The suspect also alleged that the police officers sitting beside him in the vehicle knew he was shooting but did not disarm him.
The incident generated public criticism, with a Facebook user, identified as "Portrait Peterson," questioning why police officers were allegedly escorting the suspected cultist. Mr Peterson acknowledged the arrest of the suspect but questioned the whereabouts of the alleged police escorts in the vehicle. He also alleged that the arrest could be a "mere formality" and called on the police to identify and discipline the officers seen in the video.
Responding to the allegation, the police said it was investigating the identities and roles of the two masked men seen inside the vehicle. The command said it was independently investigating whether they were police officers and, if so, their identities, roles and the circumstances surrounding their presence. The police also disclosed that officers who participated in an unauthorised video interview of the suspected cultist after his arrest had also been identified and disciplined.
The police spokesperson, Mr Eitokpah, declined to provide details about the identity of the officers and the disciplinary measures taken against them. He said the incident was an internal disciplinary matter and that the command would not shield personnel who acted improperly or compromised an investigation. The suspect remains in custody and will be prosecuted if the investigation establishes a prima facie case against him.
The police have urged anyone with credible evidence identifying the alleged police officers or other persons connected with the incident to submit it to investigators. The command reaffirmed its commitment to combating cultism and violent crime in the state, saying anyone found culpable would face the law regardless of status or affiliation. The development comes after the police arrested the suspected cult leader following the circulation of the shooting video and launched a manhunt for other persons allegedly involved.
Key points
- The Nigerian police have disciplined officers involved in escorting a suspected cultist who fired gunshots from a moving vehicle in Calabar, Cross River State.
- The incident sparked public concern and criticism, with many questioning why police officers were allegedly escorting the suspected cultist.
- The police are investigating the identities and roles of two masked men seen inside the vehicle, who may be police officers.
