Police Investigate Viral Video Of Alleged Threat Against Cross River LG Chairman

By OFFIONG ARCHIBONG

THE Cross River State Police Command has opened an investigation into an alleged threat by an officer attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) against the Chairman of Calabar Municipality Local Government Council, James Anam.

The development followed the circulation of a video showing a heated encounter between Anam and VCRU operatives at a stop-and-search point in Calabar.

In the video, an officer is allegedly heard telling the council chairman that “armed robbers would soon visit him.”

The incident reportedly occurred about three weeks ago.

However, the police said it has yet to establish the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

Police spokesperson ASP Sunday Eitokpah disclosed the development in a statement on Friday.

He said the video circulating on social media purportedly captured an altercation involving the council chairman and VCRU personnel at an undisclosed location within the Calabar metropolis.

According to Eitokpah, the Commissioner of Police, Ajo Ordue, has ordered a discreet and impartial investigation.

The probe will establish what happened before, during and after the encounter.

It will also examine the conduct of everyone involved.

Meanwhile, the command has begun the process of inviting Anam and the affected VCRU operatives to provide their accounts.

The police said the officer was purportedly heard making the statement about armed robbers visiting the chairman.

Nevertheless, Eitokpah stressed that the command had not established the circumstances or intention behind the remark.

The police therefore urged the public to allow the investigation to determine the facts.

It also warned against drawing conclusions from the circulating footage alone.

According to the command, the video may not contain everything that happened before or after the confrontation.

The police assured the public that investigators would handle the matter professionally and objectively.

It added that any misconduct established during the investigation would attract appropriate action under existing laws and police regulations.

For now, the focus remains on determining what triggered the confrontation and whether the conduct of any of the parties breached applicable rules.