A 56-year-old shoemaker identified as Anthony has died in an apparent suicide at the Obudu Main Market in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026, throwing traders and residents into shock and forcing the market to be shut following the discovery of the deceased.
The deceased, who was said to hail from Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state, reportedly operated as a shoemaker at the market.
Residents said they were still trying to come to terms with the circumstances surrounding his death, with details of what may have led to the incident remaining unclear.
Following the incident, community leaders reportedly ordered the closure of the market and demanded ₦300,000 from the deceased’s family for traditional cleansing rites before trading activities could resume.
The reported demand was said to be based on the community’s belief that the circumstances surrounding the death constituted a taboo requiring traditional rites to cleanse the market before it could reopen.
The development has reportedly left traders unable to carry out their normal business activities as the community awaits the resolution of the traditional concerns surrounding the incident.
However, the circumstances surrounding Anthony’s death have not been conclusively established.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said its operatives had visited the scene, documented the area and recovered the deceased’s body to a mortuary.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the Command had ordered an immediate investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and determine whether foul play was involved.
According to the police spokesman, the circumstances surrounding the death were yet to be established as of Monday.
“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,” Eitokpah said.
He added that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses, while urging residents to provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in their investigation.
The police investigation is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death and establish whether the incident was indeed suicide or whether there were other factors involved.
Vanguard also reported that the deceased was simply identified as Anthony and that the community shut down the market while demanding ₦300,000 for cleansing rites, citing the circumstances of the death as sacrilegious.
As of the latest reports, there was no official indication that the deceased’s family had paid the reported amount or that the market had reopened.
The incident has renewed attention on the intersection between traditional beliefs, community practices and the handling of sudden deaths in rural communities, while the police investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities are expected to provide further information as the investigation progresses and more facts surrounding Anthony’s death emerge.
