Obono-Obla Demands Crackdown on Calabar Market Touts

The picturesque streets of Calabar are currently masking a darker reality within its bustling trade hubs, prompting a stern intervention from one of the state’s most prominent legal voices. Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, a civil rights lawyer and former presidential adviser, has issued a searing appeal to Governor Bassey Otu and the Chairman of Calabar Municipal Council, James Anam, to end the reign of terror currently orchestrated by council rate agents and criminal gangs.

In a detailed statement released in the state capital on Sunday, Obono-Obla painted a grim picture of a city where the rule of law is being supplanted by the rule of the fist. He alleged that major commercial arteries, specifically the Marian Market and Ika Ika Qua, have been surrendered to the control of touts, cultists, and petty criminals who operate under the guise of official tax collection.

The primary victims of this unchecked aggression are often the most vulnerable members of the economic chain. Obono-Obla decried the physical abuse and harassment of elderly women and small-scale traders who are simply attempting to earn a legitimate living. These market women, who form the backbone of the local economy, reportedly face daily intimidation from agents who act with a level of audacity that suggests they believe they are above the law.

What makes the situation particularly galling to observers is that this violence persists despite a direct executive order. Over two months ago, Governor Bassey Otu specifically directed council agents to cease the harassment and physical assault of traders. However, Obono-Obla noted that these instructions have been largely ignored on the ground, pointing to a breakdown in the chain of command and a lack of enforcement that has emboldened the aggressors.

The legal expert characterized the current state of affairs as a descent into anomie and anarchy. He argued that public markets, which fall under the constitutional jurisdiction of local governments, have been transformed into hostile environments. In these spaces, a “might-is-right” mentality prevails, infringing upon the fundamental human rights and basic dignity of hardworking citizens who should feel protected by their government.

Obono-Obla’s critique was not entirely without balance, as he acknowledged the steps toward administrative transparency taken by Council Chairman James Anam. He specifically noted the commendable move to publish the proposed 2026 budget, an act of fiscal openness that is rare in local governance. However, he was quick to point out that a transparent budget means very little if the people it is meant to serve are being oppressed in the streets.

Transparency in governance, he argued, is a hollow victory unless it is matched with decisive measures to restore order and sanity in public spaces. The lawyer stressed that the primary duty of any government is the protection of its people. When touts and cultists are allowed to run rampant, they undermine the very essence of good governance and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.

The call for action is not just about stopping immediate violence but about salvaging the reputation of the Calabar Municipal Council. Obono-Obla warned that the current trend is causing lasting damage to the image of the council, painting it as a predatory entity rather than a service provider. He urged the leadership to demonstrate a genuine commitment to discipline and respect for human dignity to reverse this negative perception.

Beyond the immediate physical danger, there is an economic cost to this instability. Markets thrive on predictability and safety. When traders are afraid of being beaten or extorted by groups with cultist affiliations, the entire supply chain suffers. For a city like Calabar, which prides itself on its hospitality and tourism potential, the presence of violent touts in its most famous markets is a significant deterrent to visitors and investors alike.

Obono-Obla is now calling for a complete overhaul of how the council interacts with the public. He believes that the removal of criminal elements from the revenue collection process is the only way to restore the municipality to its ideals. He maintains that a government must serve its people rather than facilitate their oppression through the use of proxies who lack accountability.

The ball is now in the court of the local government leadership and the state executive. The lawyer’s intervention serves as a high-stakes reminder that while policy and budgets are important, the immediate safety of an elderly woman selling her wares in Marian Market is the true litmus test of any administration’s success. The people of Calabar are watching to see if the “People First” mantra of the current administration will finally reach the market stalls.