A recent conflict erupted between the tenants of Waddle Street in the Calabar South local government area of Cross River State and their landlord, Mr. Obong Ete, after allegations surfaced that he had been stealing from them. According to Naija News, the incident occurred on Sunday, when the tenants reportedly used horsewhips to discipline the landlord, accusing him of taking items, including food, from their homes.
As reported by Leadership, the confrontation took place about an hour before the tenants were set to leave for church. Several tenants claimed that the landlord’s alleged thefts have been a recurring issue, describing it as habitual.
Residents expressed their frustrations with the 30-year-old landlord, who, despite owning property inherited from his late parents, remains unmarried. They accused him of frequently harassing them at night. One resident, Mr. Daniel Akpan, criticized Mr. Ete for allegedly stealing food items like yams from tenants’ homes. He recounted instances where youth leaders and vigilante groups discovered stolen items in the landlord’s apartment and subjected him to beatings, yet Mr. Ete seemed unwilling to change his ways.
Another tenant, Esther Eyo, revealed that the landlord’s family disclosed he once stole from a church and was cursed by worshippers, which some believe might explain his repeated actions. Stanley Edem, another tenant, also accused the landlord of breaking into their homes in the past, leading to further curses being placed on him.
Naija News further reported that after the severe beating, the landlord was turned over to the Mbukpa police station.
However, Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer Irene Ugbo condemned the violent actions of the tenants, emphasizing that the right course of action would have been to apprehend the landlord and hand him over to law enforcement. She stressed that no one should take the law into their own hands.
