Gunmen Attack Guest House in Calabar located on Adak Uko Street in Calabar South, Rob Female Occupants of Valuables
(Source: The Guardian Nigeria)
Armed men numbering over ten reportedly stormed a guest house located on Adak Uko Street in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, dispossessing female occupants of cash, jewellery, and other valuables.
According to The Guardian, the frightening incident occurred two nights ago, leaving several women injured after they were assaulted by the armed attackers wielding guns and machetes.
The six-room guest facility, situated within the Ambo/Mbukpa axis of Calabar, was said to be overcrowded, as many of the women shared rooms due to limited space. Most of the victims had travelled from different parts of Nigeria and abroad to attend the anniversary celebration of the Universal Women’s Fellowship of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, whose international headquarters is nearby.
Residents of the area revealed that this was not the first attack on the guest house, alleging that hoodlums had struck there on at least four previous occasions within the past two years. They claimed that the perpetrators usually monitored the arrival of visitors before carrying out their raids.
One of the victims, identified as Sister Angela from Rivers State, described the experience as horrifying.”We are strangers in Calabar and did not know that the place had such poor security. They broke into our rooms at night—some stayed outside while others forced the doors open. One of them hit me and my sister with a gun, demanding money. Even after I handed over the cash I had withdrawn that evening, they kept searching our bags with torchlights,” she recounted.
Efforts by journalists to obtain comments from the guest house management proved unsuccessful, as a man claiming to be the manager declined to speak.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Cross River State, Igri Ewa, confirmed the incident and assured that investigations have commenced to track down those responsible. “We are aware of the incident and have launched an investigation. The police are committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice,” Ewa stated.
The attack has renewed concerns over the safety of visitors in Calabar South, an area that has witnessed a number of similar incidents in recent years.
