The Benue State Police Command has arrested 46 people allegedly linked to the obstruction of the convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), during his visit to the state on Tuesday.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed the development on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Nwadiogbu said the command was notified at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday that Obi would be visiting Benue, prompting the police to deploy additional security personnel to ensure the safety of the former Anambra State governor and his entourage.
According to him, three police escort vehicles led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police were deployed for the assignment.
He explained that the visit was communicated to the police as a non-campaign engagement intended to enable Obi sympathise with families and communities affected by the recent violence in Yelwata.
The commissioner said the security arrangement became necessary because Obi was expected to move through areas where tensions had recently been reported.
However, the situation reportedly changed when a group of people blocked the convoy, creating a potentially volatile situation that could have resulted in violence, injuries and destruction of property.
Nwadiogbu said the police initially exercised restraint because their priority was to prevent the confrontation from escalating.
He explained that the decision not to immediately deploy force was informed by concerns that a violent response could result in loss of lives and damage to property.
The commissioner stressed that the police response should not be interpreted as failure to act.
According to him, intelligence-led operations commenced immediately after the incident to identify the individuals involved and establish their respective roles.
“Key arrests have been made, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend all other persons connected with the incident,” he said.
The commissioner confirmed that 46 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.
He said investigations were continuing and that anyone found to have violated the law would be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Nwadiogbu also reaffirmed the neutrality of the police in political matters, saying the command would protect the rights of Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations, status or personal beliefs.
He particularly emphasised the constitutional right to freedom of movement, stressing that no person or group had the authority to unlawfully prevent another citizen from travelling within the country.
“No individual or group has the right to obstruct another person’s movement unlawfully,” the commissioner said.
He added that the police would continue to discharge their responsibilities professionally and without political bias.
The commissioner said the police had been informed that Obi’s trip was not a campaign activity but a condolence visit to communities affected by the Yelwata crisis.
He said representatives of the NDC presidential candidate had informed the command that only a limited number of people would accompany Obi, leading the police to make arrangements for enhanced protection.
Nwadiogbu disclosed that he was personally dealing with another security challenge involving road blockades around Tarka and Guma when he received information that Obi’s convoy had been obstructed.
He said undercover operatives were subsequently deployed to identify those responsible for the incident and investigate the circumstances surrounding the obstruction.
The police chief said the command’s immediate objective was to prevent the situation from degenerating into violence while ensuring that Obi was able to leave the area safely.
He confirmed that police personnel eventually escorted Obi to the airport, from where the NDC presidential candidate departed the state.
The incident occurred on Tuesday along the Gboko-Makurdi road near the Air Force Base shortly after Obi arrived in Benue.
Reports from the scene indicated that the convoy encountered a group of people who allegedly blocked the road and prevented it from proceeding towards Makurdi.
Esther Umoh, identified as Obi’s campaign photographer, had alleged in a post on X that suspected sponsored thugs were responsible for the obstruction and had deliberately targeted the NDC candidate.
Videos from the scene showed groups of men carrying sticks and other objects as the convoy attempted to move away from the area.
Another video showed police officers positioned between Obi’s convoy and the group, apparently attempting to prevent direct confrontation between the two sides.
The footage and competing accounts of the incident have generated political reactions, with questions being raised over the circumstances surrounding the obstruction and the identity and motives of those involved.
Obi later addressed his supporters and explained that his purpose for travelling to Benue was to sympathise with communities and families affected by the recent killings.
The police commissioner’s confirmation of the arrests is expected to shift attention to the ongoing investigation and the identities of those detained.
The command is also expected to establish whether the suspects acted independently or whether others organised, financed or directed the obstruction.
Nwadiogbu said the investigation would be guided by evidence, adding that those found culpable would face prosecution.
The development comes amid heightened political sensitivities ahead of the 2027 general elections, making the police response particularly significant.
Security agencies are expected to maintain neutrality and ensure that political disagreements do not translate into violence or restrictions on citizens’ lawful movements.
For the Benue Police Command, the commissioner said the fundamental responsibility remains the protection of lives and property and the enforcement of the law.
The arrest of 46 suspects therefore represents the initial phase of the investigation, while the command continues efforts to identify and apprehend other individuals allegedly connected to the incident.
