How Calabar South Youth Leader Was Killed At APC Primaries; Police Claim He Was A Hoodlum

 

Late Emmanuel Joseph

More details of how a youth leader in Calabar South, identified as Emmanuel Joseph was shot dead yesterday at Cultural Centre Complex, Calabar, venue of the All Progressives Congress, APC's House of Representatives primaries for Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency.

The Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey emerged as the winner of the contest.

GRASSROOT REPORTERS gathered that trouble started when the youths suspected diversion and hoarding of election materials. This caused serious tension among the delegates, leading to the exchange of words among the supporters of Hon Joseph Bassey and his opponent, Mr. Saviour Nyong.

The Anti-cultism and Anti-kidnapping squad, a unit in the Nigerian Police housed at the Cultural Centre Complex, venue of the election, was invited.

A source told GRASSROOT REPORTERS that immediately they arrived, they started shooting sporadically and eventually shot Emmanuel Joseph as he was walking towards his car.

Confirming the Incident, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo, said the victim was a hoodlum.

SP Ugbo claimed that Emmanuel Joseph was one of the hoodlums that stormed the Cultural Centre upon the conclusion of the primaries for unknown reasons, adding that they should have gone to the party secretariat or INEC if they felt aggrieved by the conduct of the exercise. The PPRO however said investigation into the matter had commenced.

She said, “Some hoodlums attacked our anti-cultism/kidnapping squad and in the process, one of them was shot. Some of our officers were injured while some of the hoodlums were arrested and they are now in our custody.”