A tragic incident unfolded at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Atakpa, Calabar, on Sunday, March 23, when Inspector Effiong Bassey opened fire after reportedly suffering a mental breakdown. The attack left one person dead and two others injured before the officer was subdued and taken into custody.
According to the Cross River State Police Command, Bassey had just returned from night duty at Ekondo Microfinance Bank when he began exhibiting erratic behavior. Concerned colleagues tried to retrieve his AK-47 rifle, but he refused to hand it over. Instead, he blocked the station’s gate, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.
Efforts to calm him down failed, and in the chaos that followed, Bassey opened fire. Ijeoma Wilson Obot, 41, was fatally shot, while Charles Mkpang and another unidentified victim sustained gunshot wounds.
Police reinforcements eventually overpowered him, disarming and taking him into custody.
In a statement shared on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident, expressing deep regret over the tragedy.
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“The officer’s actions escalated despite attempts at peaceful dialogue. Tactical Units and Patrol Teams were deployed to the scene, but Inspector Bassey, suspected to be mentally deranged, opened fire, striking three bystanders. Sadly, one of the victims, Ijeoma Wilson Obot, succumbed to her injuries, while the others are receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition.”
Following the shooting, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar, along with the Cross River State Command Management Team, visited the injured victims in the hospital.
The police have assured the public of a thorough investigation into the incident while emphasizing the need for better mental health checks for officers to prevent similar tragedies.