Police arrest 60 suspects over officer assault at Cross River market

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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.

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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.

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However, the command described the narrative accompanying the video as misleading, saying it did not accurately represent the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Eitokpah Sunday Akata, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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The officer further alleged that his riot gun was tampered with during the incident and that his police uniform and shoes were torn.

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He also alleged that his Samsung X10 mobile phone was taken, while pepper and egg were poured on his face and body.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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It added that the operation, which began at about 10:45am, resulted in the arrest of 60 suspects in the area.

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“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.

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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.

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It said normalcy had been restored at Watt Market, while security monitoring continued.

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“The Police remain committed to protecting lives and property and will not tolerate attacks on police officers or any other person,” the statement added.

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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.

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The police said further developments would be communicated to the public as appropriate.

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