The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old graduating student of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) over a viral video allegedly showing him firing a pistol from a moving vehicle during a student sign-out celebration in Calabar.
The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Ejim Ejim, was arrested on Saturday following a police operation launched after the footage circulated widely on social media.
According to the police, the incident occurred during a sign-out event held by graduating students of the university, with the suspect and other alleged cult members travelling in a rented black Jeep.
Police said sporadic gunshots were reportedly fired from the vehicle as the group moved through parts of Calabar before heading towards the university campus.
The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, ordered the immediate identification and arrest of everyone involved after the video emerged.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, working with operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), subsequently launched an intelligence-led operation to track down those captured in the footage.
The operation led investigators to the vehicle seen in the video, resulting in the arrest of its driver.
Information obtained during the investigation subsequently helped the police trace a key suspect to a hotel in Calabar, where Ejim was arrested.
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, police said preliminary investigations identified Ejim as a 24-year-old student of UNICROSS.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly identified himself during questioning as a leader of the Vikings Confraternity.
Police also alleged that Ejim admitted being the person seen firing the pistol in the viral video.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that he participated in the sign-out celebration and tha
The police said efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other individuals allegedly connected to the incident.
Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding the possession of the firearm and the movement of the vehicle during the sign-out celebration.
The Commissioner of Police has directed that the investigation be conducted professionally and comprehensively.
The latest arrest comes amid continued police efforts to curb the use of firearms and cult-related activities among young people in Cross River State.
By RapidoSpace News
