A tense but humorous confrontation unfolded at Watt Market in Calabar, Cross River State, when a police officer pursuing a suspected internet fraudster (commonly called a “yahoo boy”) knocked over a trader’s goods.
Key Highlights
- A police officer chasing a suspected fraudster scattered a market woman’s foodstuff at Watt Market, Calabar.
- Market women surrounded the officer, holding his shirt until the mess was addressed.
- The scene was filmed by bystanders and shared online by the account @CrossRiverVine on September 16, 2026.
- The clip has drawn mixed reactions online, from laughter to surprise at the women’s boldness.
- No official statement had been issued by the Cross River State Police Command at the time of filing.
According to a video shared by the account @CrossRiverVine on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the officer’s chase through the busy market caused a market woman’s foodstuff to scatter on the ground. Instead of allowing the officer to continue, a group of market women quickly surrounded him, holding onto his shirt and refusing to let him go until the mess was addressed.
Bystanders recorded the scene on their phones as the women stood their ground. The clip has circulated widely online, drawing mixed reactions that range from laughter at the women’s boldness to surprise that they confronted an armed officer so directly.
Reactions online
One X user, @valkyrieKxng147, commented simply: “The Police officer gas pay for sure.” Another, @ikwen_alphonsus, reacted with disbelief, writing “Which kind country be this.” A third user, @RSpotless1985, made a local reference: “E no go pass Atakpa.”
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Livelihoods on the line
The incident has sparked broader conversation about the daily realities of Nigeria’s informal economy. Market traders, many of them women who rely on daily sales of perishable goods for survival, often view any disruption to their stalls as a direct threat to their livelihoods. At the same time, police officers carrying out duties such as pursuing fraud suspects sometimes clash with the dense, fast-moving environment of traditional markets.
Watt Market is one of Calabar’s major commercial hubs, and similar tensions between security personnel and traders have been reported in the past. While some online viewers praised the women for defending their colleague’s goods, others noted the risks involved in physically restraining a uniformed and armed officer.
No official statement from the Cross River State Police Command had been issued at the time of filing this report. The video continues to generate discussion about respect for livelihoods, the challenges of policing in crowded markets, and the fearless reputation of Nigerian market women.
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