The Cross River State House of Assembly has set up a special committee to investigate the allegations leveled against the state commissioner for youths and sports development for allegedly ordering security operatives to shoot University students during a protest in Calabar, the state capital.
Two weeks ago, three students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the Cross River University of Technology (CUTECH) were shot by soldiers attached to the state security outfit, “operation skolombo”, for demanding N13 million largesse purportedly given to them by Governor Ben Ayade and the Senate Minority leader, Godswill Akpabio during May Day celebration in Calabar.
The money said to have been routed through the commissioner for youths and sports, Comrade Asu Okang was alleged not to have been released to the students hence the protests.
During the protests, the commissioner was alleged to have ordered security operatives to open fire on the students; a situation which led to three of the students being caught by bullets and currently hospitalised.
Poised to ascertain the veracity of allegations made against the commissioner, the state assembly on Thursday set up a special committee to investigate the matter and submit its report within 30 days.
This followed a motion on the issue of urgent public interest brought before the house by member representing Boki II state constituency, Hilary Bisong.
Bisong said he was pained by the development and wondered why security operatives would open fire on harmless students. “I am pained since this incident happened on May 27; I have not been a happy man.”
“We represent the voice of the people particularly those who cannot speak for themselves. May 27 was set aside for children to celebrate and not to kill them as done by our security operatives.”
Also, Mrs Itam Abang who represents Boki I state constituency frowned at the use of live ammunitions by security operatives during protests. She said rather teargas and rubber bullets should be used rather than live ammunitions.
She however said the sports commissioner would be invited to appear before the house. “For the commissioner we will get him to appear before us because no person is bigger than the Cross River State House of Assembly.”
But the Youths and Sports Commissioner, Mr Asu Okang has dismissed the allegations.
Asu Okang spoke to journalists in Calabar shortly after visiting one of the victims at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) while the other two were said to have been taken to traditional bone experts in Yakurr local government area of the State.
His words: “How can I order the shooting of the students, I couldn’t have ordered the shooting of students and then still go back to the hospital and see them. It sounds very abnormal.
“Those students came out in solidarity with our Government that I serve in as Commissioner for Youth. I invited them that we are rolling out the drums for Cross River at 50 so let’s come out as young people to celebrate the State.
“You know the way these things happen. His Excellency the Governor in his magnanimity saw the turnout of young people, with the joy he said I’ll give you a wholesome 10 million naira, it was a promise he made in the stadium, it wasn’t premeditated, the Governor ordered the Commissioner for Finance to make the money available for students through the office of the Commissioner”, he said.
and then