A 42-year-old man, Ayei Ibor, has been killed following a dispute over an N500 gift in Kekoti community, Ajere area of Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State.
The incident occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday when a disagreement reportedly broke out between Ibor and Ebino Ikpi over the money.
According to the Cross River State Police Command, the disagreement escalated into a fight during which Ibor was allegedly stabbed.
Police spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday in Calabar that Ibor later died from his injuries.
Ikpi reportedly fled the scene but was arrested around 8:40 a.m. at a hideout in Ajere-Ekori. He was subsequently taken to the Yakurr Police Division.
The arrest, however, led to another confrontation after sympathisers reportedly gathered at the Ekori Police Division and demanded the suspect’s release.
Police said the group, on discovering that Ikpi was no longer at the station, attacked the facility with stones and other objects. The attack damaged seven windows, the DPO/DCO office door, six plastic chairs, a wall mirror, part of the roofing and the passenger-side glass of the DPO’s official vehicle.
The residence of the Ajere Youth Leader, Omini Jacob, was also attacked after he was allegedly accused of helping the police arrest the suspect.
According to the police, officers later dispersed the crowd and restored order, with reinforcements deployed from the Area Command in Ugep and the Violence and Cultism-Related Unit (VCRU), Ugep.
The Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Ajo Ordue, ordered that the murder suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
The police also launched a manhunt for those suspected of attacking the police facility.
The command appealed for calm and urged residents to obey the law, warning that attacks on police formations and interference with criminal investigations would attract legal action.
