By Sylvia Akpan
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 60 suspects in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer around Watt Market, Calabar, following a viral video that sparked concerns over the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command, in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, on Wednesday, said the viral narrative alleging that market women held a police officer after a chase involving a suspected internet fraudster was misleading.
According to the Police, the incident occurred on September 15, 2026, at about 3:30 PM, when a concerned member of the public alerted officers that a policeman was being attacked around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane, Calabar.
The Command said a patrol team from Atakpa Police Division was immediately mobilized to the scene, where the officer was rescued and taken to the station.
The officer reportedly told investigators that he was proceeding from his office through Goldie by Bedwell Junction to meet his colleagues when he attempted to impound a motorcycle whose rider had allegedly stepped on his leg while he was on duty on September 11 and subsequently fled.
He alleged that when he attempted to apprehend the rider, some roadside traders confronted and assaulted him while allegedly aiding the rider’s escape.
The officer claimed that his riot gun was tampered with, his uniform and shoes were torn, and his Samsung X10 mobile phone was taken. He also alleged that pepper and egg were poured on his face and body before the motorcycle was forcibly taken from him.
The Police said the officer had indicated that he could identify some of those allegedly involved in the incident.
Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, directed the Command to gather intelligence, identify those involved and prosecute anyone found culpable in accordance with the law.
The Police said the directive led to the reinforcement of patrol and surveillance teams at Atakpa Police Division with operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) on September 16.
The operation, according to the Command, resulted in the arrest of 60 suspects in the area.
The suspects are currently undergoing screening and interrogation, while the Police said efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other persons who may have participated in the incident.
The Command urged members of the public to rely on verified information and refrain from drawing conclusions from what it described as incomplete or misleading narratives circulating online.
It added that normalcy had been restored at Watt Market, while security monitoring remained ongoing.
The Police reiterated their commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that attacks on police officers or any other person would not be tolerated.
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