The Cross River State Police Command, through its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah Akata, in Calabar on Thursday, 17 September 2026, issued a strong warning against assaulting, obstructing or violently resisting police officers performing lawful duties, following an alleged attack on an officer at Watt Market that led to the arrest and screening of 60 people.

Eitokpah said the warning was necessary amid what the command described as increasing incidents in which officers are allegedly assaulted or obstructed while responding to emergencies, preventing crime and maintaining public order.

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The police spokesman said the uniform represents public authority, but stressed that officers behind the badge remain people exposed to the risks associated with policing.

“Every day, police officers leave their homes to respond to emergencies, prevent crime, protect lives and property, maintain public order and enforce the law,” Eitokpah said.

The warning comes days after a confrontation at Watt Market in Calabar drew attention online after a video circulated showing a police officer being confronted by members of the public.

According to the Cross River command, the incident occurred on 15 September at about 3:30pm around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane.

The police said a member of the public alerted officers that a policeman was being attacked, prompting personnel from Atakpa Police Division to respond and rescue the officer.

The command subsequently deployed additional personnel, including members of its Violence Crime Response Unit, and arrested 60 people for screening and interrogation.

After preliminary investigation and a review of available evidence, police identified four people for prosecution over the alleged assault.

They were named as Emem Asuquo, 40, Aniema Nelson, 40, Idara Bassey Sunday, 28, and Mercy Edet, 44.

The four suspects were expected to be arraigned in Calabar on 18 September. The police have stressed that the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Watt Market episode has added immediate context to the Cross River Police warning, although Eitokpah’s wider appeal extends beyond that single incident.

He reminded residents that Section 98 of the Police Act 2020 makes it an offence to assault, obstruct or resist a police officer while the officer is performing official duties.

A person convicted under the provision may face a fine of N500,000, imprisonment for six months, or both.

The command’s position, however, was not that police officers should be shielded from scrutiny.

Eitokpah specifically distinguished respect for law enforcement from immunity from accountability, saying citizens who believe an officer has acted unlawfully or abused official powers should pursue appropriate legal channels.

He cited the National Human Rights Commission as one avenue through which complaints about alleged violations can be pursued.

“Neither the citizen nor the police officer is above the law,” Eitokpah said in substance, while urging both sides to avoid violence and rely on lawful mechanisms for resolving disputes.

The position is particularly relevant in situations where encounters between officers and members of the public become tense.

A disagreement with a police officer does not, under the law, automatically justify physical resistance, while an allegation of police misconduct also does not remove a citizen’s right to seek redress.

Eitokpah urged residents who believe an arrest is unlawful or who have complaints about police conduct to document the matter and use established complaint and legal channels rather than resorting to confrontation.

The command has also urged its personnel to recognise the responsibility attached to wearing the police uniform.

For Eitokpah, public confidence depends on obligations on both sides. Officers are expected to act professionally and respect human dignity, while citizens are expected to comply with lawful instructions and avoid violence.

The Cross River command’s approach comes as police authorities face the continuing challenge of maintaining public cooperation while responding to incidents that can quickly become contentious.

In the Watt Market case, the police said the original social media narrative did not accurately represent what happened and urged residents to rely on verified information rather than conclusions drawn from incomplete footage.

The command also said normalcy had returned to Watt Market and that security monitoring would continue.

Commissioner of Police CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue has assured the public that the command will uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all persons while subjecting allegations involving police officers or members of the public to due process.

The immediate legal proceedings involving the four suspects will provide an opportunity for the allegations surrounding the Watt Market incident to be tested before a court.

For the wider public, the police message is a reminder that disputes involving law enforcement carry responsibilities on both sides.

The Cross River Police warning seeks to draw a clear line between legitimate criticism or complaints against police conduct and physical attacks on officers carrying out lawful duties.

Eitokpah said the ultimate objective should not be a contest between police authority and citizens, but a system in which both operate within the boundaries of the law.

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“Ultimately, the protection of police officers and the protection of citizens are not opposing causes,” he said. “They are part of the same objective: a society governed by law rather than force.”