Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A dark cloud of grief and controversy has descended on Obudu Main Market in Cross River State after a 56-year-old shoemaker, simply identified as Anthony, was found dead by suicide inside the market square in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026. The tragedy has not only left traders and residents in shock but has also sparked a heated debate over cultural traditions pitted against human dignity, as community leaders shut down the market and demanded a staggering N300,000 from the deceased's grieving family for "cleansing rites" before any trading could resume.
The deceased, a shoemaker and indigene of Bekwarra Local Government Area, was found dead in the market under circumstances the community now considers a taboo. While police investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the death, the community's immediate reaction has been to treat the incident as a spiritual contamination that threatens the market's fortune. An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the community was demanding the money, stressing that the circumstances surrounding his death were considered a taboo and that the cleansing was necessary to enable the reopening of the market.
The demand for N300,000 has thrown the deceased's family into a deeper crisis. Already grappling with the shock and sorrow of losing their breadwinner, they are now being asked to bear a heavy financial burden they may not be able to afford. A source within the community defended the demand, stating, "The community considered the circumstances surrounding the incident a taboo that required traditional cleansing. The family must pay for the rites before the market can reopen". This stance has raised concerns among residents about the financial strain it could place on a bereaved family already in mourning.
In the meantime, the Cross River State Police Command has stepped in to bring some order to the chaotic situation. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident, stating that police operatives have visited the scene, documented the area, and recovered the body to the mortuary. He emphasized that the command has ordered an immediate investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and rule out any possibility of foul play. "The circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be established," Eitokpah said, urging residents to provide credible information to aid the investigation.
The tragic event has thus laid bare a painful conflict between tradition and humanity. While the community insists on performing rituals to cleanse what they perceive as a "sacrilegious" death, critics argue that demanding money from a grieving family is an act of sheer cruelty and extortion. The market remains shut, traders are counting their losses, and the family of the deceased is left to navigate both their grief and a community that has placed a price tag on their pain. As the police investigation continues, all eyes are on the authorities to see whether they will allow this tradition to stand or intervene to protect a family already broken by tragedy.
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