The police in Cross River State have launched a manhunt for three suspects accused of killing a cocoa farm worker during an attack on a farmland in Boki Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at a cocoa farm in Isibendeghe Community, where three labourers were reportedly working when the assailants allegedly opened fire.
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In a statement on Wednesday, the police spokesperson in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, said one of the workers, identified as Joseph Friday, died from gunshot injuries, while two others escaped.
The latest killing comes barely a month after the command commenced an investigation into the fatal shooting of a farmer and the wounding of another during an attack on farmland in Biase Local Government Area. In that case, the police urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals while detectives worked to identify those responsible.
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Attack on cocoa farm
According to the police, the attack on the cocoa farm was reported at the Boki Police Station at about 1:25 p.m. by Etta Ado, who alleged that three men from Boje Community attacked her cocoa farm.
The complainant identified the suspects as Patrick Otu Debang, James Osa, and another man known simply as “Pepsi.”
She told the police that the suspects “opened fire on the workers, fatally shooting one Joseph Francis Friday.”
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The complainant further alleged that the suspects “had persistently harassed and threatened her over activities at the farm before the incident.”
According to the report, two other workers, Clinton Abang and Amobi Igwe, escaped from the scene before later returning to inform her of the attack.
Investigation underway
The police said detectives from the Boki Division visited the scene after receiving the report.
According to the police, “the corpse of the deceased was recovered with multiple pellet wounds consistent with injuries inflicted by a locally made firearm, with penetrations to the chest and abdomen.”
The body has been deposited in a mortuary for an autopsy.
Police said investigations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, adding that “further developments will be communicated accordingly.”
The incident adds to growing concerns over recurring violence affecting farming communities in parts of Cross River, where attacks linked to land disputes and other local conflicts have repeatedly turned deadly.
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