Police arrest 60 over assault of officer

The police in Cross River State have arrested 60 suspects in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer at Watt Market in Calabar.

The police said the arrests followed an incident on Tuesday in which a police constable was allegedly attacked by roadside traders and others around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane, Calabar.

In a statement on Wednesday, the police spokesperson in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, said the command responded to a viral video alleging that market women had held a police officer following a chase involving a suspected internet fraudster.

Mr Eitokpah said the narrative accompanying the video was misleading and did not accurately reflect the circumstances surrounding the incident.

What the video shows

In the Facebook video, the officer is surrounded by several traders and other people. A woman is seen grabbing his uniform around the neck while another person appears to punch him from behind.

The officer is seen arguing with those around him, but the soundless footage does not establish what triggered the confrontation. Another man appeared to have attempted to disarm the officer.

Several others watch the confrontation, with some recording it with their phones.

The footage does not, however, establish the circumstances that led to the confrontation.

Police account

According to the police, a member of the public alerted officers at about 3:30 p.m. on 15 September that a police officer was being attacked around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane.

The patrol team at Atakpa Police Division was subsequently mobilised and rescued the officer, who was taken to the police station.

The officer told investigators that he was proceeding from his office through Goldie by Bedwell Junction to join members of his team when he attempted to impound a motorcycle.

He alleged that the motorcycle rider had earlier, on 11 September, accidentally stepped on his leg while he was on duty before escaping.

The officer said he later attempted to apprehend the rider but was confronted and assaulted by some roadside traders who allegedly aided the rider to escape.

The police said the officer further alleged 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, while the motorcycle was forcibly taken from him, enabling the rider to escape.

The officer reportedly told investigators that he could identify some of those involved.

60 suspects arrested

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, Ajo Ordue, directed the command to gather intelligence, identify those involved, and arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable.

Mr Eitokpah said patrol and surveillance teams from Atakpa Police Division, reinforced by operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit, arrested 60 suspects in the area at about 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday.

The suspects are currently undergoing screening and interrogation, according to the police.

The command said efforts were also ongoing to identify and apprehend other persons who may have participated in the incident.

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The police thanked the member of the public whose alert enabled officers to respond and rescue the constable.

Mr Eitokpah urged members of the public to rely on verified information and avoid concluding what he described as “incomplete or misleading narratives circulating online.”

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

The police reiterated that attacks on police officers or other members of the public would not be tolerated and said further developments would be communicated.