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The Cross River state police command says suspected hoodlums armed with machetes and sticks attacked the convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Calabar on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Obi said his convoy was attacked in Calabar, where he had gone for a town hall meeting as part of his nationwide engagements ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement, Eitokpah Akata, police spokesperson Cross River, said one of the suspects had been arrested, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend others.
Akata identified the suspect as Victor Edet Yellow Duke, 27.
“The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old suspect, identified as Victor Edet Yellow Duke, in connection with the alleged attack on the convoy of the Presidential Candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), His Excellency, Peter Obi, along the Watt Market Roundabout axis of Calabar, on Wednesday, 4th November 2026,” the statement reads.
“The attack reportedly resulted in damage to the windshields of some vehicles in the convoy.”
The police spokesperson said the attack occurred at about 2:20pm 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.
He said at the Watt Market Roundabout in the state capital, “a group of suspected hoodlums, reportedly armed with machetes and sticks, emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis and attacked vehicles within the convoy, smashing their windshields”.
Akata said the exact number of vehicles affected was yet to be ascertained.
“Police personnel deployed around the area responded swiftly to contain the situation,” he said.
“The arrested suspect was subsequently moved to the state police headquarters by operatives of the violent crime response unit (VCRU) for discreet investigation and to prevent any possible reprisal or further breakdown of law and order. Normalcy has since been restored in the area,” he said.
Akata said Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commissioner of police in the state, had directed a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend other persons who may have participated in the attack and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
He added that the suspect’s arrest did not amount to a determination of guilt, as he remained entitled to the presumption of innocence pending the conclusion of the investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings.
The police spokesperson assured residents, political stakeholders and visitors that adequate security measures remained in place to protect lives and property and guarantee the peaceful conduct of lawful political activities in the state.
He said the command was committed to providing equal security protection to all political parties, candidates and their supporters, irrespective of political affiliation.
