By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Over 10 men suspected to be armed robbers during the week invaded a small guest house in Calabar, Cross River State, robbing guests of their belongings as well as assaulting them.
Converseer learned that the guests, mainly women, were dispossessed of their money, jewellery and other valuables from their rooms in the guest house located at Adak Uko Street in Calabar South area.
The women had to pair up in some of the rooms in the guest house, which has six rooms, since there was a shortage of hotels and such in the Ambo/Mbukpa neighbourhood in Calabar.
According to Daily Post, women from different states in Nigeria and abroad came to participate in the anniversary celebration of the Universal Women’s Fellowship of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS), whose international headquarters is situated in the neighbourhood.
Residents of the Adak Uko street told Daily Post that this is the fourth time armed robbers have attacked innocent guests at the guest house in the last two years.
They said they usually wait until they notice that visitors from outside Calabar check in before they pounce on the unsuspecting guests.
According to some of the victims who narrated their ordeals in the hands of the criminals, they said that the suspects spent time entering one room after another, pouncing on the guests with their guns and machetes.
One of the women who gave her name as Sister Angela, said she came from Rivers State. According to her, “We’re strangers in Calabar. We never knew that the particular guest house was so porous in terms of security.
“The armed robbers arrived in the night. While some stood outside, as many as ten forced their way into our doors. One hit me and my sister in our rooms with his gun, demanding money without wasting time.
“I had some cash which I withdrew that night. I handed it over, but they still insisted on more. I pleaded that I don’t more. They used torchlight and ransacked our bags.”
A man who said he was a manager at the guest house refused to speak.
Reacting, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Igiri Ewa, said they will launch investigations to bring to book the culprits.
