A middle-aged shoemaker, simply identified as Anthony, has died by suicide inside the Obudu Main Market in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The tragic incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026. He is said to hail from Bekwarra Local Government Area.

The incident prompted community leaders to shut down the market and demand N300,000 from his family for cleansing rites before trading can resume, stressing that the circumstances surrounding his death were sacrilegious.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer ASP Sunday Eitokpah disclosed that the deceased was a 56-year-old man simply identified as “Anthony”.

ASP Sunday Eitokpah said that the Command has ordered an immediate investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and rule out any possibility of foul play.

“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.

“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” Eitokpah said. (Vanguard, excluding headline)