Benue Police Detain 46 Suspects Over Obstruction of Obi’s Convoy in Makurdi

Police in Benue State say they have arrested 46 suspects in connection with the obstruction of a convoy belonging to ADC presidential candidate Peter Obi on Tuesday, as he attempted to enter Makurdi.

The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said suspected thugs blocked Obi’s convoy along Gboko Road near the Air Force Base in Makurdi, preventing him from proceeding into the state capital. He said the convoy was in Benue on a visit intended to sympathise with families affected by the Yelwata crisis, and not for political campaigning.

“No individual or group has the right to obstruct another person’s movement unlawfully,” Nwadiogbu said, adding that officers deliberately avoided the use of force during the standoff to prevent loss of life or property, opting instead for what he described as intelligence-led operations to identify and arrest those involved.

According to the police account, representatives of the visiting delegation had informed the command in advance that only a small accompanying group would be present.

The Benue State Government has denied any involvement in the blockade and rejected suggestions that those responsible acted on its behalf or with its knowledge.

Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the incident, describing it as an act of political repression, and called for a full investigation into who organised the blockade and why.

The police commissioner cautioned against actions that could heighten political tensions as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general election, without attributing responsibility for the incident to any political actor pending the outcome of investigations.

The 46 suspects arrested have not been named, and police say they remain in custody as investigations continue. It has not yet been stated what specific charges, if any, will be brought against them.

The incident is likely to add to an already heightened national conversation about the treatment of opposition politicians and their supporters ahead of the next general election cycle, with civil society groups expected to keep close watch on how the investigation is handled.