Security officials dismissed over stolen C’River sports equipment
Two security officials have been arrested and dismissed over missing sports equipment from the Cross River State Sports Commission. It was gathered that 133 shotput and 72 discus were allegedly stolen at the U.J. Esuene Stadium last month.
The missing sports equipment were bought during the Governor Liyel Imoke administration for the botched 2020 National Sports Festival. Cross River State was to host the NSF, but could not eventually due to lack of funds, with Edo handed the hosting rights instead.
The Chairman, Cross River State Sports Commission, Emmanuel Elom, confirmed the incident and added that some people had been arrested in connection with the incident and that the police were investigating the matter.
It was gathered that the two security officials, who were arrested over the issue, were released and the matter taken from the Area Command Akim Police Station to the Anti-Cult Department at Cultural Centre Complex, Calabar, while nobody had been charged to court.
The Chief Security Officer, William Anderson, said, “Proper investigation should be carried out to bring the culprits to justice. This is an organised crime. These sports equipment were not taken in one day.”
The Stadium Manager, Mike Andotan, said, “It’s somebody that knows about the usefulness of the equipment that stole them. It’s organised. For us to lose 133 shotput and 72 discus did not happen in one day. I think the stadium security did not do their job properly.”
The state’s Commissioner for Sports, Ofu Anya, also confirmed the incident, adding that the stadium was controlled by the Cross River State Sports Commission.