The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 60 persons following the alleged assault of a police officer at Watt Market in Calabar, after a viral video of the incident triggered conflicting accounts online.
According to the command, the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane, Calabar, after a member of the public alerted the police that an officer was being attacked. A patrol team from Atakpa Police Division was deployed to the scene, rescued the officer and took him to the station.
The police said the officer told investigators that he had been moving 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.
The officer alleged that when he later attempted to apprehend the rider, some roadside traders confronted and assaulted him while helping the rider escape.
He further alleged that his riot gun was tampered with, his uniform and shoes were torn, his Samsung X10 phone was taken, and pepper and egg were poured on his face and body during the confrontation.
The command said the officer also claimed that the motorcycle was forcibly taken from him, enabling the rider to escape, and that he could identify some of the persons allegedly involved.
Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, ordered an intelligence-led operation to identify those involved and arrest anyone found culpable. Patrol and surveillance teams at Atakpa Police Division were subsequently reinforced by operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit.
The operation, which began at about 10:45am on Wednesday, led to the arrest of 60 suspects in the area. The police said the suspects were undergoing screening and interrogation, while efforts were continuing to identify and apprehend other persons who may have taken part in the incident.
The command also disputed the narrative accompanying the viral video, describing it as misleading and saying it did not accurately reflect the circumstances of the incident.
Police urged members of the public to rely on verified information and avoid drawing conclusions from incomplete accounts circulating online. The command said normalcy had returned to Watt Market, although security monitoring remained in place.
The allegations against those arrested have not yet been established in court, and the police said further developments would be communicated as investigations continue.