Armed pirates on Monday, June 15, 2015 raided the Nigerian Marine Police Armoury located along Marina road in Calabar, Cross River State, making away with a large cache of weapons including two gun boats, Premium Times reports.
According to the report, the gunmen operated for almost two hours without opposition, killing one police officer and a private security man.
A private security personnel attached to a church in the area, who gave his name as Ofonmbuk, said his colleague was killed by the invaders.
“I survived by the grace of God. I had to sleep under the gutter when I saw my colleague hit by a bullet. The pirates used a superior fire power that the police could not stand them.”
The attackers were later dislodged by the Nigerian Navy.An anonymous source said the pirates “came through the Calabar River in two speed boats, while some came with a bus and strategically positioned themselves along the routes leading to the armoury. It was until the Navy came and engaged them; that was when the pirates ran away.”
The police spokesman for Cross River State, Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident, but said only a police officer was killed.
Bassey said: “Yes I can confirm there was an attack early this morning and a police man was killed.
“We are investigating the matter and hope to get to the root of it, we will make sure they are arrested and made to face the law.”
