The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old man, Ebino Mbang Ikpi, in connection with the alleged murder of another man following a dispute over ₦500 in Ajere, Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.

The police said the incident occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on September 27, 2026, at Kekoti, Ajere, where Ayei Ekpe Ibor, also 42, was allegedly stabbed during a fight with Ikpi.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, Ibor, a resident of Okonobngha, Ajere, was confirmed dead after the incident.

The police said the suspect fled the scene but was arrested at about 8:40 a.m. at a hideout in the Ajere-Ekori area following efforts by operatives to locate him.

Ikpi was subsequently taken to the Yakurr Police Division for detention and further investigation.

However, shortly after his arrest, a group of sympathisers and other persons allegedly mobilised and attacked the Ekori Police Division, demanding the suspect’s release.

The police said the group, after discovering that Ikpi was no longer at the station, allegedly attacked the facility with stones, damaging seven windows, the DPO/DCO office door, six plastic chairs, a wall mirror, part of the roofing and the passenger-side glass of the DPO’s official vehicle.

The residence of the Ajere Youth Leader, Omini Jacob, was also reportedly attacked over allegations that he had assisted the police.

Police operatives subsequently dispersed the crowd and restored order, while the Ekori Division was reinforced by the ACPOL Ugep and the Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU), Ugep.

The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, directed that the murder suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

He also ordered intensified efforts to identify and arrest those allegedly involved in the attack on the police division and destruction of public and private property.

The police command urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, warning that attacks on police formations, destruction of property and attempts to obstruct criminal investigations would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The command said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.

The Cross River State Police Command has denied allegations that it is shielding suspected cultists linked to a viral video showing sporadic gunfire from a moving vehicle in Calabar.

The Command, in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, said the suspect arrested in connection with the incident remains in police custody and is undergoing investigation.

The statement was issued in response to allegations published by the social media handle “Portrait Peterson,” which claimed that the police were attempting to cover up the identities of persons allegedly involved in the incident.

According to the Command, the arrest of the suspect was not a “formality” or an attempt to divert attention from the allegations.

Police said the suspect would be prosecuted if investigations establish a prima facie case against him.

The Command also said it was investigating the identities of two masked persons seen inside the vehicle in the viral footage who were alleged to be police officers.

It said the suspect had not identified the two individuals, adding that investigators were independently working to determine whether they were members of the police force and, if so, establish their identities, roles and circumstances surrounding their presence in the vehicle.

The police further disclosed that officers involved in an unauthorised video interview with the alleged suspect, which was subsequently leaked online, had been identified and disciplined in line with established police procedures.

The Command said it would not protect personnel found to have acted improperly or compromised investigations involving suspected offenders.

It also urged the operator of “Portrait Peterson” and anyone with credible and verifiable evidence identifying the masked persons or others allegedly involved in related cult activities to submit such information to the police to assist the ongoing investigation.

The Command reiterated its commitment to tackling cultism and violent crime in Cross River State, stressing that anyone found culpable would face the law regardless of status or affiliation.

Members of the public were advised to report emergencies or provide security-related information through the Command Control Room on 0706 797 7330 or 0705 335 5415.

The Cross River State Police Command has warned its personnel against demanding or collecting money from commercial drivers and tricycle operators during stop-and-search operations, following allegations of roadside extortion along Calabar Road and adjoining areas.

The warning came after a recent report by The Punch alleged that commercial drivers and tricycle operators were being extorted along the Calabar Road to Watt Market axis.

The Command, in response, held a meeting with transport stakeholders at the Atakpa Police Division on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, to address the allegations and strengthen collaboration between the police and transport operators.

The meeting was held in line with the policing vision of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, particularly his emphasis on discipline, accountability and community-oriented policing.

The Commissioner was represented by the Divisional Police Officer of Atakpa Police Division, CSP Azenda Peter, whose division has jurisdiction over the area where the alleged extortion was reported.

Among those present were executives of the Unified Commercial Drivers Association of Cross River State, led by its State Chairman, Nta Henshaw, and representatives of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, led by the Calabar South/Municipality Chairman, Chief Pastor Ekpenyong Ewa.

The police command made it clear that no police officer is authorised to demand, solicit or compel motorists or riders to make payments during stop-and-search operations or other lawful police dutie

By Elijah Ugani 

A police officer has allegedly assaulted a driver at the Ikom Border Post in Cross River State, leaving the driver with two broken ribs and requiring hospital treatment.

The incident, reportedly which occurred on August 28, 2026, sparked outrage among youths and drivers in the area, who allegedly dismantled the checkpoint in protest.

The protesters accused officers stationed at the checkpoint of repeatedly harassing drivers and causing problems for other road users. They called for the abolition of the checkpoint, arguing that several other checkpoints are already mounted along the same road.

However, the Cross River State Police Command has acknowledged the reported incident, describing it as an allegation of assault and unprofessional conduct by a police officer at the Ikom Border Post.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the Command said the officer involved had been recalled to his base and was currently facing disciplinary proceedings in line with established police procedures.

The police said unprofessional conduct and abuse of members of the public would not be tolerated, assuring residents that appropriate action would be taken based on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.

“The Command remains committed to professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights,” the statement said.

The development comes amid renewed calls from drivers and youths for greater accountability among security personnel manning checkpoints in the area.

The police disciplinary process is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and establish whether the officer breached established

The Cross River State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the deaths of two unidentified men allegedly attacked by a mob in Calabar South in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, 2026.

The incident occurred along Ekpo Obasi, near Yellow Duke, after the men were reportedly apprehended by residents on suspicion of involvement in a robbery.

According to a statement by the Police Command, operatives visited the scene, documented the incident and commenced preliminary investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the identities of the deceased.

The remains of the two men have since been evacuated from the scene with the assistance of relevant local government authorities for appropriate preservation.

The Police Command condemned the incident and urged members of the public to desist from jungle justice, stressing that suspected offenders should be handed over to the police or other lawful authorities for investigation and prosecution.

The Command maintained that no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands.

It said further details would be made available as the investigation progresses.

The Cross River State Police Command has pledged to deepen its partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to promote peace, security, responsible citizenship and peaceful coexistence across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, made the commitment on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, when the State Director of NOA, Mr. John M. Asanye, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Command Headquarters in Calabar.

The meeting focused on security awareness, public enlightenment, peacebuilding, grassroots engagement and the promotion of positive civic values.

Ordue described the NOA as a strategic partner in maintaining peace and stability in Cross River State, stressing that effective policing requires active participation from citizens and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

According to him, the partnership aligns with the Community Policing component of his D-D-C-I-I-D-D-T policing framework, which prioritises trust-building, stronger police-community relations and citizen participation in crime prevention.

The Commissioner also highlighted the importance of proactive communication and public enlightenment in preventing crime, countering misinformation and disinformation, discouraging violence and building public confidence in the police.

He expressed the Command’s readiness to leverage the NOA’s public enlightenment platforms and grassroots engagement structures to deepen security consciousness and ensure that credible information reaches residents across the state.

Earlier, the NOA State Director, John M. Asanye, said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing relationship between the two institutions and identifying practical areas for collaboration.

Asanye expressed the agency’s readiness to work closely with the Police Command in promoting peace, security, civic responsibility and peaceful coexistence among residents.

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration and grassroots engagement, with the Police Command assuring residents of its continued focus on professional, people-oriented and intelligence-driven policing.

The Command also reiterated its commitment to strengthening public trust and ensuring that citizens remain active partners in crime prevention and public safety across Cross River State.