The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly assaulting police officers, resisting lawful arrest, and engaging in conduct capable of breaching public peace in Calabar.
The incident occurred during a routine patrol by operatives of the Operation Anti-Kidnapping Squad, during which the suspect reportedly tore the uniform of one of the officers while violently resisting arrest. Police said the suspect also attempted to jump out of a moving patrol vehicle in a bid to escape. He is currently in custody and will be charged to court.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the suspect’s shirt was also torn during the struggle.
According to Eitokpah, the incident happened on January 15, 2026, at about 12:45 p.m., when operatives on township patrol around the Ettagbor axis sighted a white Mercedes-Benz with what appeared to be a suspicious and improperly assigned registration number. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle to verify its ownership and question the occupants.
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He said the occupants refused to stop and instead drove into a popular telecommunications gadget market known as Tonimas, located opposite the University of Calabar, with the police patrol team following closely.
The police spokesperson stated that when officers attempted to convey the suspect and the vehicle to their base for proper investigation, the man resisted arrest and began inciting gadget vendors, students, and passers-by. He allegedly accused the police of attempting to arrest and extort him unlawfully, a claim the Command described as false.
The situation, according to the police, quickly became tense as the crowd grew hostile, prompting the patrol team to call for reinforcement. Before additional operatives arrived, some members of the public allegedly turned violent and pelted officers with stones and sticks.
With the intervention of operatives from Operation Sting, Anti-Cultism, and the Paramilitary Intervention unit known as Operation Okowor, the suspect was eventually subdued and placed in a patrol van. The police said he was re-arrested through a joint effort involving security personnel, after which the crowd was dispersed.
The Cross River State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to professionalism, respect for human rights, and strict adherence to the rule of law. The Command stressed that it does not tolerate misconduct by its personnel and will hold any officer found wanting accountable in line with existing regulations.
Members of the public were urged to remain calm and continue to cooperate with the police in the collective effort to maintain peace and security across the state.
