Police nab 46 suspects for blocking Obi’s convoy in Benue

The police have arrested 46 people for blocking the convoy of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), during his visit to Benue State on Tuesday.

The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, shared this information on Wednesday while speaking to journalists in Makurdi, the state capital.

Mr Nwadiogbu said they got word about Mr Obi’s visit at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday. They deployed security personnel, including three police escort vehicles led by an assistant commissioner of police, to ensure safety during the visit.

The situation changed when some people blocked the convoy, creating a tense moment that could have turned violent. He mentioned that the police did not use force initially due to worries about possible loss of lives and damage to property.

Mr Nwadiogbu confirmed that the police eventually escorted Mr Obi safely to the airport, from where he left the state. He added that the choice not to use force should not be seen as the police doing nothing. Instead, they quickly began intelligence-led operations to find those responsible.

"Key arrests have been made, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend all other persons connected with the incident," he said. The commissioner stated that the police remained neutral and professional. He emphasized that every Nigerian has the right to move freely, regardless of political beliefs or status.

He warned that anyone found guilty would face prosecution according to the law. "No individual or group has the right to obstruct another person’s movement unlawfully," Mr Nwadiogbu stated.

He explained that Mr Obi’s visit was meant to offer sympathy to families affected by the Yelwata crisis. According to him, Obi’s representatives informed the police that only a few people would accompany him, leading to the decision to increase security.

Mr Nwadiogbu said he was handling another security issue with road blockades in Tarka and Guma when he learned that Mr Obi’s convoy had been blocked. He mentioned that undercover officers were sent to find out who was involved and what their intentions were.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Tuesday that Mr Obi’s convoy was stopped by suspected thugs who prevented him from going into Makurdi. This incident happened along Gboko Road near the Air Force Base after Mr Obi arrived in Benue for his visit.

Esther Umoh, Mr Obi’s campaign photographer, posted on X that suspected thugs were hired to block the road to stop the NDC candidate from entering the state. Videos obtained by PREMIUM TIMES showed men with sticks and other items chasing the convoy as it turned back. Another video captured police officers positioned between the convoy and the group.

Mr Obi later spoke to his supporters and explained that he came to Benue to sympathize with communities affected by recent killings. The Benue State Government denied any involvement in the incident and rejected claims that the suspected thugs were acting on its behalf.

In a statement signed by Tersoo Kula, chief press secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, on Tuesday, the government stated it had no knowledge of the alleged actions against Mr Obi. The government also questioned why Mr Obi’s visit was not officially communicated to the relevant security agencies.

Mr Kula stated that the government does not use thugs for governance or security, adding that recognized security agencies are responsible for maintaining law and order in the state. This situation drew criticism from Amnesty International, which called the alleged use of political thugs to block Mr Obi’s movement as political repression and demanded an investigation.

Mr Nwadiogbu cautioned that security agencies would not accept actions that could increase political tensions as Nigeria heads towards the 2027 general elections. He assured the people that the police would keep enforcing the law while protecting lives and property.

The arrests are expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the obstruction of Mr Obi’s convoy and whether those detained acted alone or had ties to any political or other groups. The police investigation is still ongoing.