PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Suspected gunmen in Army uniform have unleashed mayhem on Utanga communities close to the Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort in Obalinku LGA of Cross River State.
An eyewitness, a youth leader, Agom Osim said that the gunmen, numbering over 20, were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons
According to him, lack of telecommunications signals in those communities did not allow helps to come to them.
The incident happened Wednesday at about 10am.
According to him, “They attacked and robbed five communities close to Utanga. We were not aware that there was such incident going on as there is no mobile network in the area.
“After that, they drove through the road to Utanga, robbing shops to shops, residential houses and attacking unsuspecting people”.
“At first, shop owners thought they were military men, not until they started shooting indiscriminately”.
“They entered shops, beat up, injured those that attempted to resist them. A young man from Utanga was shot dead in the process. We hear that two others were similarly killed in another community.”
Agom said a fuel station worker who tried to argue with the gang was stabbed in the back, arms, sustaining a deep cut on his head.
A youth leader in Utanga, Adie Simon said he saw the gunmen seizing motorcycles from some villagers.
Utanga natives lamented the lack of telecommunication network in Utanga and lack of any security presence.
Reacting, chairman of Obanliku LGA, Mrs Margaret Inde described the attack as barbaric and gruesome.
She consoled victims and prayed for peaceful repose of the victims and quick recovery of the injured
She has reportedly dispatched a team led by her special adviser on Security, Mr. Gabriel Akomaye to visit victims who were hospitalised as a result of the incident.
She called for calm and assured that efforts are on to bring perpetrators to book.
“Government will stop at nothing to guarantee the safety of citizens. There is need for all to be vigilant and to work with security agencies at all times.”
She called on security agencies to beef up security against further attacks.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obanliku Mr. Elemi Bassey confirmed the arrest of one indigene of Utanga in connection with the mayhem.
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