Carnival Calabar: Nigerian Navy withdraws participation for security reasons, detains carnival spokesman

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Efio-Ita Nyok|25 December 2016

The Nigerian Navy are currently at loggerhead with the Carnival Calabar and have withdrawn in full force their participation from the annual Africa’s biggest street party citing security as the reason for their withdrawal, our reporter has learnt from impeccable source in the commission.

But navy’s reasons for withdrawal from this year’s carnival may have far more other undertones kept from public eyes.

In addition to their withdrawal, it was gathered that the Nigerian Navy dispatched some of its men and abducted Mr. Francis Ekpo, the spokesman for Carnival Commission, who was said to be kept under detention for a day in the navy’s prison before the commission ran helter skelter to settle for his release.  It was a no mean situation, our medium learnt.

Our reporter gathered further that the reason the Carnival Commission spokesman was detained was in a bid for the navy to recover back the funds they expended on the carnival, but our reporter could not, as at press time ascertain the exact sum.

But Ekpo is said to since have been released the minutes of cash was spent on the carnival by the Nigerian navy was refunded. The force went thorough in their demand, as not, even a coin accruing from them to the coffers of the carnival was left back.

All efforts to reach the Commander Ayi, Public Relations Officer of Cross River command to get his take proved abortive as his phone line was switched off.

On his part, the Special Assistant to Cross River Government on State Events Online Media, Mr. Mathias Amgbah, who appeared not to be privy to the incident wondered why the Nigerian Navy that is supposed to be in charge of security will withdraw from the carnival citing security as a reason.

The Nigerian Navy usually joins other arm forces to participate yearly in the carnival as a non-competing band as a way of showing their support for the annual street party.

This will be the second time the state will be having crisis of relationship with the uniform arm. Just a few months ago, the commissioner of police, over lingering love lost, took to media space to place a ban on the operation of Cross River State owned green police introduced by the current state government administration.

Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven.org