A 56-year-old man identified as Anthony has died by suicide at Obudu Main Market Square in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026, and the community is reportedly demanding N300,000 from the deceased's family for a cleansing ritual, citing the circumstances of the death as a taboo.
Incident Details and Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PUNCH that the deceased hailed from Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state. The source said residents were still in shock over the circumstances surrounding his death.
“The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday. We are still in shock over the situation. He is a shoemaker and he is from Bekwarra Local Government Area,” the source said.
The eyewitness added that the community is allegedly demanding N300,000 from the deceased's family for cleansing, stressing that it was necessary to enable the reopening of the market, which has since been shut. The demand is based on the belief that the manner of death constituted a taboo.
Police Confirmation and Investigation
The spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident on Monday, August 25, 2026. He stated that the command had ordered an immediate investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the death and rule out any possibility of foul play.
“We are aware of the incident. Police operatives visited the scene, documented the area, and recovered the body to the mortuary. The circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be established,” the PPRO said.
Eitokpah urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to the police, adding that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
“I urge residents to continue providing credible and timely information to the police as further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” he added.
Community Reaction and Market Closure
The market has been shut since the incident, and the community's demand for N300,000 for cleansing is seen as a precondition for its reopening. The family of the deceased has not publicly responded to the demand as of the time of reporting.
The police investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet established the exact circumstances leading to the death. The case highlights the intersection of traditional beliefs and legal procedures in rural Nigerian communities.
