Police: More Arrests Coming Over Attack On Obi’s Convoy In Benue

The Benue State Police Command has  said that efforts are being made to apprehend all other persons involved in the attack on  the convoy of the presidential candidate  of the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC)  on Tuesday, after announcing the arrest of  46 persons in connection with the attack. The attack happened along the  Gboko-Makurdi Expressway.

Addressing a news conference in Makurdi on Wednesday, the commissioner of police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said that the arrests followed intelligence-led operations launched immediately after the incident.

Nwadiogbu clarified that the command was informed of Obi’s visit at about 5:30pm on Monday, 7 September, and subsequently deployed adequate security personnel to protect him throughout his movement in the state.

“Consequently, adequate security was deployed, including three police escort vehicles with personnel led by an assistant commissioner of police,” the commissioner said.

He explained that Obi’s movement was obstructed by a group of people.

According to the commissioner, “At that point, the police took a professional and tactical decision to avoid an escalation that could have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property. The police subsequently ensured the safety of the former Anambra State governor by escorting him back to the airport, from where he departed the state peacefully”

“Let me state clearly that the tactical decision taken by the police should not be mistaken for inaction.

“The Command immediately commenced intelligence-led operations to identify those responsible. 46 arrests have been made, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend all other persons connected with the incident,” he said.

Meanwhile, more than ten people suspected of participating in the attack on the convoy of Peter Obi were said to be critically injured and hospitalised at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for medical attention.

The NDC Benue State Publicity Secretary, Agile-Bem Jabez Ordedoo, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that one of the attackers died while receiving treatment.

The statement reads, “We regret to announce to you that one of the young men sponsored to attack the Presidential and Governorship candidates of NDC has passed on this morning at the Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.”

“He has since been deposited at the mortuary, while the rest continue to lie critically unstable at the emergency ward. Their parents are yet to arrive, hence the delay in commencing treatment. We pray for your quick healings,” Ordedoo said.

However, one of the BSUTH officials who pleaded anonymity told LEADERSHIP that over ten wounded youths were brought to the hospital, and they were receiving treatment. “Over ten wounded victims were brought in here yesterday for urgent medical attention. They are being treated. I don’t know where they came from. We don’t know whether they were involved in Peter Obi’s incident yesterday. What we know is that they are accident victims and are being treated. They are responding to treatment, and none of them died,” the source stated.

When contacted, the BSUTH Chief Medical Director, Dr Stephen Hwande, did not respond to calls placed to his phone regarding the issue.

Recall that suspected thugs had attacked the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, along the Gboko-Makurdi Expressway in Makurdi on Tuesday as they prevented him from visiting Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area to sympathise with victims of the 13 June 2025, terrorist attack.