Calabar, Nigeria – Cross River State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Calabar has remanded Inspector Effiong Bassey, the Nigeria Police officer who shot three unarmed civilians with his official rifle.
Converseer reports that Chief Magistrate Mercy Ene, who presided over the case brought before the court by Officer in Charge of Legal, SP Otu Ubangha of the State Police Command, remanded Insp. Bassey at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of the case on 14th April.
Recall that on Sunday morning (23rd March 2025), Bassey opened fire on passersby after a heated argument with his colleagues at the Atakpa Divisional Police Headquarters, Watt Market, Calabar.
In the process, a 41-year-old mother of one, Mrs Ijeoma Wilson, who was the wife of another policeman, was killed. Two other people sustained various degrees of bullet injuries, with one reported to be unconscious.
Approaching the court on Monday (24th March 2025), SP Ubangha sought the court in an ex parte motion to remand the defendant (Insp. Bassey) while waiting for legal advice from the State Prosecutor.
Ubangha told the court that his application was supported by a 6-paragraph affidavit and a written address.
Chief Magistrate Ene, after hearing the motion, adjourned the case to 14th April 2025 pending the report from the State Department for Public Prosecution (DPP).
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo Obase, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that Insp. Bassey started exhibited abnormal behaviour after returning from night duty at a microfinance bank.
“An officer, Inspector Effiong Bassey, serving at the mentioned division, returned from his night duty at Ekondo Microfinance Bank and began to exhibit abnormal behaviour.
“Inspector Bassey refused to hand over the AK-47 rifle he was assigned and instead proceeded to block the station’s gate, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the premises. Despite attempts at peaceful dialogue to resolve the situation, the officer’s actions escalated.
“Subsequently, Tactical Units/Patrol teams were deployed to the scene, where Inspector Bassey, suspected to be mentally deranged, opened fire on bystanders who had been instructed to leave the area.
“Tragically, three individuals were struck by the officer’s stray bullets, including Ijeoma Wilson Obot, a 41-year-old female, who later succumbed to her injuries.
“The other two victims, Charles Mkpang and another individual are currently receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition.
“The officer was eventually subdued, disarmed,” the statement by the Ugbo-Obase read.
