UCTH worker allegedly kills by police anti-cultism squad
The Anti- Cultism Unit of the Cross River State Police Command has allegedly killed a worker at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Mr . Nakanda Edet.
The incident was said to have happened on Tuesday on the hospital’ s premises during a reception organised by the institution’ s management after the May Day celebration.
While a hospital source said Edet was strangled for alleged cult-related activities , the police claimed he was wanted in a murder case and died while being chased for arrest.
The source told PUNCH Metro
that the deceased had been on the wanted list of the police for a long time .
He added that the police got information that he was at the workers’ reception party and a police squad appeared to arrest him .
The source noted that the late Edet took to his heels and was later found dead on the hospital’ s premises.
He said , “ The worker had been involved in cult- related activities and was on the wanted list of the police.
“ He had always been elusive , but luck ran out on him when the police, acting on a tip off , trailed him to the institution during the reception after the May Day celebration.
“ On sighting the officers of the task force, who were heading in his direction, Edet took to his heels for safety towards the back of the administrative block of the UCTH . Unfortunately , he died and could not be revived .
“ The officer , who ran after him , suddenly returned to the car park area without the man he pursued . He ( policeman) asked his colleagues at the reception venue to retreat immediately. They went out and zoomed off immediately through the UCTH back gate.
“ Not long after, the lifeless body of Edet was discovered by some of the staff workers behind the administrative building. On a closer examination, it was discovered that he was strangled. ”
The Chief Medical Director of the UCTH, Prof. Thomas Agan , confirmed the death , but said investigation was ongoing to unravel the reason he was killed.
“ He was killed by the police. I do not know for what reason , but we are also investigating the matter through an autopsy , ” he said .
But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo , who confirmed the death of the UCTH worker , absolved the police of blame.
“ The young man had been on the wanted list of the police over a murder case which he was involved in. We got information that he was at a reception venue in the UCTH and the police went for him .
“ On sighting our men, he took to his heels . But while he was being chased , he fell and died , ” she said .