Calabar: Police Arrest One, Hunt Others Over Attack On Obi’s Convoy

The attack reportedly resulted in damage to the windshields of some vehicles in the convoy.

The incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. as the candidate’s convoy was returning from the palace of the Obong of Calabar en route to Metropolitan Hotel, the venue of the party’s presidential town hall meeting.

At the Watt Market Roundabout, 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. The exact number of vehicles affected is yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

Police personnel deployed around the area responded swiftly to contain the situation. The intervention, which included the deployment of tear gas, led to the arrest of the suspect, while other suspected attackers fled the scene.

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.

The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue,  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.

The Command emphasised that the arrest of a suspect does not amount to a determination of guilt, as the suspect remains entitled to the “presumption of innocence pending the conclusion of investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings.”

The Command assured residents, political stakeholders and visitors that adequate security measures remain in place to protect lives and property and guarantee the peaceful conduct of lawful political activities across the state.

It reiterated its commitment to providing equal security protection to all political parties, candidates and their supporters, irrespective of political affiliation, while urging members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and promptly report suspicious activities through established police communication channels.

Not deterred by the attack, Obi later addressed the town hall meeting where he pledged to unite Nigeria, tackle kidnapping and other forms of insecurity, and fight corruption if elected president.

 He stressed that his administration would prioritise national unity, security, education, healthcare and the welfare of citizens. “Our commitment is to unite Nigeria. Nigeria today is not united. If we unite Nigeria today, we will have the strength to fight insecurity,” he said.

On security, Obi said his administration would not tolerate the prevailing challenges, particularly kidnapping and attacks on schoolchildren. “Anybody that kidnaps schoolchildren and goes into the bush, we will be in that bush with him, wherever it is.

“We are not scared of him,” he said, adding that security agencies under his watch would pursue kidnappers into their hideouts to ensure the safe rescue of abducted children. On corruption, he promised to confront the menace decisively.

“We will fight corruption head-on. We want people to stop stealing public money. Public money must be used for public good and for the welfare of the people,” he said.

Obi also pledged increased investment in education and healthcare, describing both sectors as critical to national development.

The NDC presidential candidate averred that his political partnership represented a new approach to governance, anchored on shared responsibility and a commitment to transforming the country.

“We represent a new Nigeria that is possible. We represent a governance that people have not seen in Nigeria before,” he said.

He said the engagement was organised to provide residents the opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns without restrictions. “The style is to listen to you. You are free to ask any question. No restriction. Make any comment. That is why we are here,” he said.