Cross River Police/Navy Clash: Ex-Police Officer Appeals For Compensation

Supol Eteng Onen (rtd).

A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Eteng Onen, has appealed to the Police authorities and the Cross River State Government to compensate him for the damages suffered during the 2018 clash between the personnel of the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria police in Calabar.

ASP Onen, who survived the attack narrowly while on his duty post at the Police Area Command Office, Akim, Calabar said he lost his Mercedes V-Boot with registration Number AP 483 BWR and other personal valuables to the Police/Navy clash which claimed the lives of two policemen and one seriously injured.

Speaking with newsmen in Calabar, he said the car and other valuables were set ablaze at the Akim Police Division together with the Akim Divisional Police Office and the Akim Police Patrol Van.

He recalled that the families of the two deceased officers and the officer who was injured had been compensated by the Cross River State Government, while the Akim Police Station was recently renovated.

The retired senior Police Officer expressed surprise why he was yet to receive any compensation from either the state government or the police and Navy authorities several months after the ugly incident.

ASP Onen (rtd) noted that the open speech by the state government, Prof. Ben Ayade shortly after the incident gave him hope as a person who believed that the governor is a man who keeps his words any day and anytime.

“Since then, I have been waiting patiently until on October 25, 2017 when the N2 million the governor gave was shared among the families of the two policemen who lost their lives and the policeman who lost his eye.

“And recently, the Akim Police Station was refurbished,” he stated.

“I am using this medium to appeal to the Cross River governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and the Police authorities as the only policeman who lost his personal property during the incident to be remembered and compensated as you promised.

“This will go a long way to cushion my plight and to restore permanent peace in my mine,” ASP Onen (rtd) added.