Police Arrest Suspect Over Attack on Peter Obi’s Convoy in Calabar

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man, Victor Edet Yellow Duke, in connection with an alleged attack on the convoy of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Calabar.

The incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, around Watt Market Roundabout, as Obi’s convoy was returning from the palace of the Obong of Calabar to Metropolitan Hotel, venue of the party’s presidential town hall meeting.

According to the Police, suspected hoodlums armed with machetes and sticks emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis and attacked vehicles in the convoy, smashing the windshields of some of them.

The exact number of vehicles affected has yet to be determined.

The Police said officers deployed in the area responded swiftly, using tear gas to disperse the attackers and restore order, while one suspect was apprehended. Other suspected assailants reportedly fled the scene.

The arrested suspect was subsequently taken to the State Police Headquarters by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) for investigation and to prevent possible reprisals.

The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has ordered a thorough investigation to identify and arrest other individuals involved in the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The Command stressed that the arrest does not imply guilt, noting that the suspect remains entitled to the presumption of innocence pending the conclusion of investigations and any subsequent judicial proceedings.

It also assured political stakeholders and residents of adequate security during political activities across the state, reiterating its commitment to providing equal protection to all political parties, candidates and their supporters, irrespective of political affiliation.

The Police urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and report suspicious activities through established communication channels.