Police arrest suspect over assault on Peter Obi’s convoy in Calabar

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man in reference to the assault on the convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Calabar.

The arrest adopted an incident on Wednesday, November 4, when suspected hoodlums reportedly armed with machetes and sticks attacked autos in Obi’s convoy, smashing a few of their windshields.

Police spokesperson in Cross River State, Eitokpah Akata, recognized the arrested suspect as Victor Edet Yellow Duke, including that investigations have been ongoing to trace down different people believed to have participated within the assault.

Obi had earlier disclosed that his convoy was attacked whereas he was in Calabar for a city corridor assembly. The go to was a part of his nationwide engagements forward of the 2027 basic election.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, Akata stated the incident occurred round 2:20 pm alongside the Watt Market Roundabout axis of the state capital.

According to the police, Obi’s convoy was coming back from the palace of the Obong of Calabar to Metropolitan Hotel, the place the NDC presidential city corridor assembly was scheduled to happen.

The police spokesperson defined that the convoy got here below assault when a gaggle of suspected hoodlums emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis.

The attackers have been reportedly carrying machetes and sticks and focused autos throughout the convoy, damaging their windshields.

Akata stated the precise variety of autos affected had but to be established.

The police stated officers deployed across the space responded promptly after the assault was reported, serving to to include the scenario and stop additional escalation.

The arrested suspect was subsequently taken to the state police headquarters by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

Akata stated the choice to switch him to the headquarters was meant to facilitate a discreet investigation and stop potential reprisals or additional disruption of public order.

He added that standard actions had since resumed within the affected space.

The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has directed a complete investigation into the incident.

According to the police spokesperson, the commissioner instructed investigators to determine and arrest everybody suspected of involvement within the assault and set up the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The command stated efforts have been ongoing to apprehend different suspects who could have taken half within the violence.

However, the police cautioned towards treating the arrest as proof of guilt, stressing that Victor Edet Yellow Duke remained entitled to the presumption of innocence till the investigation was concluded and any subsequent judicial proceedings decided his culpability.

Police guarantee political events of safety
Following the incident, the Cross River State Police Command assured residents, political stakeholders and guests that enough safety preparations remained in place throughout the state.

Akata stated the command was dedicated to defending political candidates, their supporters and members of the general public, no matter their political affiliations.

He additionally reiterated that each one political events would obtain equal safety safety to allow them to conduct lawful political actions with out intimidation or disruption.

The police urged the general public to stay calm as investigations continued, whereas assuring that these discovered liable for the assault could be handled in accordance with the legislation.