Gunmen kill C’River governor’s steward

Sebastian
| credits: Mudiaga Affe

The personal steward of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has been reportedly killed in Calabar.

The steward, who was identified as Sebastian, was said to have been killed in his residence by some yet-to-be identified, shortly after departing from the governor’s house on Friday.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the steward, who hailed from the Obanliku Local Government Area of the state, had followed his boss round the state on political campaigns, but was killed shortly after returning home.

He said, “Sebastian was killed on Friday in his Eight Mile residence. He was loved by the governor and his family. He had five-year-old twins and a new baby. The news came to us as a shock.”

When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, declined comment on the death of Sebastian, but said the growing insecurity might not be unconnected to politics.

In a related development, security details attached to the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the Cross River South Senatorial District, Mr. Gershom Bassey, was on Saturday hit by bullets fired by hoodlums at the politician’s residence in Calabar.

The attack on Bassey’s residence came barely 48 hours after his campaign team was attacked in Bakassi by suspected thugs from an opposition party.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen were said to be four in number and drove to the politician’s residence in an Audi car, disarmed and shot a mobile policeman who was on duty.

It was further gathered that a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that was on duty at the residence was shot in the buttocks.

One of the witnesses said, “Four young men drove in an Audi car to Gershom Bassey’s gate and asked for him. When they found out that he was not around, they came out of their car and opened fire. The NSCDC man and a riot policeman were shot.

“The NSCDC man was shot in the buttocks, while the policemen were shot in the legs. Neither Bassey nor his wife was home when the gunmen came.”

It was learnt that the gunmen made away with the policeman’s rifle.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident, saying the matter was currently being investigated.

“Some hoodlums went there, but they were repelled. However, some security personnel sustained injury and we are investigating the matter,” he said.