Cross River Police Arrest 60 After Officer Assaulted at Calabar Market
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 60 suspects following the alleged assault of a police officer at Watt Market, Calabar, the state capital. The arrests followed a viral video circulating on social media alleging that market women at the market held a police officer after a chase involving a suspected internet fraudster, during which a trader’s goods were reportedly scattered. However, the command described the narrative accompanying the video as misleading, saying it did not accurately represent the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Arrests Follow Officer Assault at Calabar Market
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 60 suspects following the alleged assault of a police officer at Watt Market, Calabar, the state capital. The arrests followed a viral video circulating on social media alleging that market women at the market held a police officer after a chase involving a suspected internet fraudster, during which a trader’s goods were reportedly scattered. However, the command described the narrative accompanying the video as misleading, saying it did not accurately represent the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Eitokpah Sunday Akata, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. [1]
Police Account of the September 15 Attack
According to the statement, the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at about 3:30pm, after a concerned member of the public alerted the police that an officer was being attacked around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane, Calabar. It stated that the patrol team at Atakpa Police Division was immediately mobilised to the area, where the officer was rescued and taken to the station. The police said the officer told investigators that he was proceeding from his office through Goldie by Bedwell Junction to meet his team members when he attempted to impound a motorcycle whose rider had allegedly stepped on his leg while he was on duty on September 11. The statement quoted the officer as saying, “When I subsequently attempted to apprehend the rider, I was confronted and assaulted by some roadside traders who allegedly aided the rider.” The officer further alleged that his riot gun was tampered with during the incident and that his police uniform and shoes were torn. He also alleged that his Samsung X10 mobile phone was taken, while pepper and egg were poured on his face and body. The police quoted him as saying that the motorcycle was forcibly taken from him, enabling the rider to escape, adding that he could identify some of those involved in the alleged attack. [1]
Response by Cross River Police Command
Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, directed the command to urgently gather intelligence, identify those involved and arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable. The statement said the directive led to the reinforcement of patrol and surveillance teams at Atakpa Police Division by operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit on Wednesday. It added that the operation, which began at about 10:45am, resulted in the arrest of 60 suspects in the area. “The suspects are currently undergoing screening and interrogation, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other persons who may have participated in the incident,” the statement said. The command also appreciated the member of the public who alerted the police to the incident, saying the timely information enabled its operatives to respond and rescue the officer. The police said further developments would be communicated to the public as appropriate. [1]
Criticism of Misleading Social Media Narrative
The command urged members of the public to rely on verified information and avoid drawing conclusions from what it described as incomplete or misleading narratives circulating online. It said normalcy had been restored at Watt Market, while security monitoring continued. “The Police remain committed to protecting lives and property and will not tolerate attacks on police officers or any other person,” the statement added. [1]
Separate Crime Arrests in Edo State
The Edo State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a man for allegedly defiling his six-year-old stepdaughter in the state. In a statement by the state command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, on Wednesday, the suspect was identified as 57-year-old Kadiri Edenokun of Jattu, Auchi, in Edo North. She said the victim is receiving medical treatment under the care of the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs, while investigation is ongoing. The statement read, “The command has arrested a suspect over the alleged defilement of his six-year-old stepdaughter. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to committing the offence multiple times. The child is currently receiving medical treatment under the care of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Edo State. The suspect remains in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.” The PPRO also said the command had recovered the second and remaining Toyota Highlander stolen during the robbery at the residence of Hon. Kennedy Odion, the state chairman of the African Democratic Congress, off Winners Road, Ihie Community, Benin City, on September 6, 2026. Ikoedem said that following credible intelligence, the black Toyota Highlander, with registration number LSR 729 HY, was tracked and recovered along 3rd Cemetery Street, off New Lagos Road, New Benin, by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit. “The command remains firmly on the trail of the perpetrators, with efforts ongoing to recover the remaining stolen items and apprehend all those responsible,” she added. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Patrick Daaor, warned that the command would not tolerate acts of sexual violence, particularly against children. He urged parents and members of the public to remain vigilant, stressing that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law. The command also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information on suspicious persons, movements or activities. [5]
What to watch next: The suspects in the Cross River case are currently undergoing screening and interrogation, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other persons who may have participated in the incident, and further developments will be communicated to the public as appropriate. In Edo State, the suspect remains in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.
