The convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and supporters of the party came under attack in Calabar, Cross River State, on Wednesday, shortly after his visit to the palace of the Obong of Calabar.
The incident happened shortly after Obi arrived in the state capital for the party’s presidential town hall meeting at Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar.
A correspondent who monitored the event said the convoy was moving through the metropolis amid cheers from supporters when suspected political thugs ambushed it around the popular Watt Market area, throwing stones, bottles and other dangerous objects at the vehicles and supporters.
The attack threw the area into panic as supporters ran for safety, while vehicular movement and commercial activities were disrupted.
Several NDC supporters were said to have sustained injuries of varying degrees in the incident, while vehicles and other valuables were reportedly destroyed.
Some vehicles in the convoy were also reportedly damaged, with their windscreens shattered.
Men of the Cross River State Police Command, who were on the ground, quickly intervened, dispersing the attackers and restoring order to the area.
The police arrested one suspect in connection with the attack.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, who confirmed the arrest in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar, said the suspect, identified as Victor Edet Yellow-Duke, 27, had been arrested, while investigations had begun to identify those behind the attack and their sponsors.
“NDC supporters under heavy attack in Watt Market. The police have made an arrest to this effect. The suspect name is Victor Edet Yellow-Duke, male, 27 years,” the police spokesman said.
He assured residents that normalcy had been restored and that adequate security had been deployed to strategic locations in the metropolis to prevent a recurrence.
Despite the attack, Obi later went ahead to the venue of the town hall meeting, where he was expected to address party supporters and stakeholders in Cross River State.
