By Prosper Mene
A black market fuel dealer, Joseph Emmanuel, has been arrested after allegedly beating his 10-year-old daughter to death in Calabar South on Wednesday evening, January 21, 2026.
The incident occurred at No. 3 Esit Ebom Street, where Emmanuel reportedly lost his temper upon discovering that a rubber petrol pipe, used to siphon fuel from drums into motorcycle tanks for illegal sales was missing. The tool is essential to his illicit trade, which supplements income amid Nigeria’s persistent fuel scarcity and high prices.
According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, Emmanuel accused his daughter of misplacing or stealing the hose. Despite her denials, he allegedly assaulted her severely with fists and a wooden object from a firewood pile. The beating continued until the child became unresponsive.
Neighbours, alerted by the commotion and cries, intervened and forced entry into the home. They found the girl lifeless on the floor amid spilled food and blood. Youths in the area reportedly attacked Emmanuel in anger, inflicting visible injuries before police arrived.
The Cross River State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Akata, confirmed the arrest. Emmanuel has reportedly confessed to the act, claiming provocation over the missing item. He sustained injuries from the mob and was taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for treatment, while the child’s body was deposited at the hospital mortuary pending autopsy.
The petrol pipe was later recovered in the yard, reportedly displaced by one of the younger children during play, highlighting the tragic irony of the loss that sparked the fatal rage.
The incident has cuased outrage in the community, with residents decrying the dangers of the black market fuel business, which often exposes families to desperation, volatility, and violence. Many point to broader socioeconomic pressures, including poverty, unemployment, and the lingering effects of fuel subsidy removal as contributing factors that push individuals into risky trades and fray family bonds.
Police have charged Emmanuel with murder, and investigations continue. Child rights advocates have called for greater protection measures for vulnerable children in low-income households engaged in informal and illegal economies.
