A tragic incident in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has left a 40-year-old man dead after he was allegedly shot by a police officer during a social gathering at a drinking spot.
The victim, identified as Sunday Ejimot, was reportedly killed on Sunday afternoon, December 29, 2025, at about 1:40 p.m. The incident occurred along Asimita Road in the Ikot Ansa area of the city, where a group of people had gathered to drink and socialise.
According to a police situation report obtained by SaharaReporters, the shooting happened when a police inspector attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) was drinking with members of his Biase community at the location.
The officer involved was identified as Inspector Atimbang Ojogwu (AP/No. 198424). The report said he brought out his service pistol, a Tokarev model, during the gathering. In the process, he allegedly forgot that the firearm had already been cocked and accidentally pulled the trigger.
The single shot fired from the pistol struck Ejimot in the neck as he sat among the group. The situation report noted that the shooting was unintentional and resulted from an accidental discharge of the weapon.
Ejimot was immediately rushed to the Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar for medical attention. However, doctors at the facility confirmed him dead on arrival.
Following the incident, police authorities said the inspector was promptly disarmed and taken into custody. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) morgue, where it will be preserved pending an autopsy and further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
