Calabar Rants

CROSS RIVER POLICE ARREST 11 SUSPECTS OVER ALLEGED CULT INITIATION NEAR UNICAL

The Cross River State Police Command says it has arrested 11 men over suspected cult initiation activities in a bush near the University of Calabar’s Engineering Department.

According to a police statement dated October 23, the suspects were arrested on October 22 during a joint operation involving the police’s Violent Crime Response Unit and UNICAL security personnel.

Police also recovered a Lexus 350 saloon car, reportedly abandoned by someone who fled, and three motorcycles.

The suspects are being investigated to establish their individual roles. Police stressed that no link between the recovered vehicles and the alleged activity has been established, and all 11 men remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

With 11 arrests near a major university, how serious is the cultism problem around UNICAL, and what more should be done to tackle it?

🚨 CROSS RIVER: OTU PRESENTS ₦987.8 BILLION 2027 BUDGET

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has presented a proposed ₦987.8 billion budget for 2027 to the State House of Assembly, tagged the “Budget of Consolidation and Renewed Hope.”

Presented on Wednesday, October 21, the proposal allocates ₦708.43 billion (71.72%) to capital expenditure and ₦279.38 billion (28.28%) to recurrent expenditure.

Infrastructure receives the largest listed sectoral allocation at ₦246.1 billion, followed by education with ₦99.6 billion and healthcare with ₦85.4 billion.

The proposal is approximately 2.57% higher than the 2026 budget and must still undergo legislative scrutiny and approval before becoming law.

With nearly ₦1 trillion proposed for 2027, what projects and improvements should Cross Riverians demand to see delivered?

Good morning cross river state, Nigeria.

Wishing you a wonderful week