Nursing mother shot during protest

A nursing mother was shot and left critically wounded during a protest by locals at the site of the proposed Obudu Cargo International Airport in northern Cross River State.

Her baby is said to be in a trauma while others, who also sustained injuries, were taken to nearby clinics.

The protesters were demanding to see the state governor, Ben Ayade, for meaningful agreement to be reached, and also demanded that work be suspended within the Okambi axis.

The people, from the six communities whose 1,500 hectares with the nine square kilometre land was acquired by the government for the project, claimed that they have not been paid adequate compensation.

However, the state government, in newspaper advertorials, said  N900 million has been expended in that regard.

Speaking with journalists, one of the witnesses, Mr. Kajetan Ifeanyi, said eight police vans and three hired thugs mounted guard at the site when work resumed after it was halted due to previous agitations.

“It was really tragic as security operatives in their numbers alongside some thugs and contractors stormed the project site to resume work.

“The angry villagers whose economic trees, lands, houses and ancestral monuments were destroyed, mobilised to protest against the resumption of work.

“The police resorted  to the use of force, firing live bullets at the villagers, leaving at least six persons fatally  injured, including a breastfeeding mother who had her two legs damaged by bullets.”

Ifeayi further said the security agents also confiscated the phones of the protesters to prevent them from taking pictures of the incident.

“As at the time of this report, not less than six people have been injured, and four arrested.

Meanwhile, Okambi Development Association, one of the organisations kicking against the airport project has taken the government to court over what it termed land-grabbing without due compensation.

A former member of the state House of Assembly, Mr Jacob Otu Enyia, who is in charge of the project, blamed the villagers for confronting the workers, insisting that government has paid all the compensation claims.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the police command, Irene Ugbo, said she was yet to be briefed on the incident.