Police ‘discipline’ officers for escorting suspected cultist filmed firing gunshots from moving vehicle

The police in Cross River State said they have disciplined officers seen escorting a suspected cultist who was filmed firing gunshots from a moving vehicle in Calabar.

The police said it was also investigating two masked men seen inside the vehicle and alleged to be police officers.

The police spokesperson in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a statement shared on Sunday, following public concerns over the viral video.

Mr Eitokpah said the officers involved in the incident had been identified and “disciplined” in accordance with police procedures.

The viral video shows a young man pulling down the windscreen of a Toyota Land Cruiser and firing several shots into the air as the vehicle moved through a street in Calabar.

Some men inside the vehicle were dressed in police camouflage, while youths dressed in white shirts and trousers, with their faces masked, were seen trailing the vehicle.

People could also be heard chanting “Vikings” as the vehicle moved through the street.

The procession disrupted disruption, with vehicles painted in Cross River’s blue-and-white colours seen giving way to the convoy.

The video was shared on Facebook by Nsemo Offiong, who attributed it to the “Naija Confra” platform.

The accompanying post identified the shooter as the alleged “Vikings number one man” at the Cross River University of Science and Technology.

The suspected cultist, who allegedly admitted to being the “Vikings No. 1” in the university, told investigators in another video that he was embarking on a carnival float to mark his sign-out from the university and official handover to another person.

Police probe alleged escort

The incident generated public criticism after a Facebook user, identified as “Portrait Peterson,” questioned why police officers were allegedly escorting the suspected cultist.

Mr Peterson acknowledged the arrest of the suspect but questioned the whereabouts of the alleged police escorts in the vehicle.

He also alleged that the arrest could be a “mere formality” and called on the police to identify and discipline the officers seen in the video.

Responding to the allegation, the police said it was investigating the identities and roles of the two masked men seen inside the vehicle.

“The suspect has not identified them,” the command said, adding that it was independently investigating whether they were police officers and, if so, their identities, roles and the circumstances surrounding their presence.

Officers disciplined over video

Mr Eitokpah said officers who participated in an unauthorised video interview of the suspected cultist after his arrest had also been identified and disciplined.

However, when PREMIUM TIMES asked Mr Eitokpah about the identity of the officers and the disciplinary measures taken against them, he declined to provide details.

“It’s unauthorised and a breach of the standard of operations of the NPF,” Mr Eitokpah said of the video in which the suspect was interrogated.

“That’s all for now. It’s an internal disciplinary matter,” he added.

The police spokesperson said the command would not shield personnel who acted improperly or compromised an investigation.

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Suspect remains in custody

The development comes after the police arrested the suspected cult leader following the circulation of the shooting video and launched a manhunt for other persons allegedly involved.

The suspect was filmed during an interview with police officers holding a calabash which he said contained “juju” prepared for his protection by someone in his village.

He also told police officers in the video that he had no licence to possess a firearm and claimed that the police officers sitting beside him in the vehicle knew he was shooting but did not disarm him.

He said he rented the vehicle for N150,000 per day.

The police have said the suspect remains in custody and will be prosecuted if the investigation establishes a prima facie case against him.

The command urged anyone with credible evidence identifying the alleged police officers or other persons connected with the incident to submit it to investigators.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to combating cultism and violent crime in the state, saying anyone found culpable would face the law regardless of status or affiliation.