Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

A fresh controversy has emerged between Peter Obi, the Labour Party‘s 2023 presidential candidate, and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the release of CCTV footage linked to an airport incident involving the former Anambra State governor.

The dispute began after Keyamo released surveillance footage from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which he said showed a vehicle associated with Obi violating airport parking regulations. The minister maintained that the footage contradicted Obi’s recent claim that he had been subjected to intimidation and unfair treatment at Nigerian airports.

However, Zekeri Idris, one of Obi’s spokespersons, has rejected the minister’s position, insisting that the footage released by Keyamo relates to a different incident from the one Obi publicly described during a recent interview.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Idris argued that the minister based part of his response on the mistaken assumption that Obi enjoys official security protection similar to that of serving government officials.

According to him, although Obi is entitled to security as a prominent opposition leader, he currently has no police or Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel attached to him in Abuja.

“Mr. Peter Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him in Abuja, despite being entitled to VVIP protection by virtue of his status as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria. He certainly does not have a police officer serving as his driver.

“Your reference to a ‘police driver’ appears to have been based on the assumption that he enjoys the level of security protection ordinarily accorded to someone of his standing. He does not.”

Idris said he had accompanied Obi on numerous trips across the country and had personally observed what he described as repeated discourteous treatment from some government officials at airports.

He maintained that the CCTV footage published by Keyamo did not capture the same incident Obi referred to during his interview.

“The incident you posted is entirely different from the one Mr. Peter Obi narrated in his interview. In that interview, he clearly stated: ‘I was there…’ In the incident contained in your tweet, he was not present.”

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The spokesman argued that if there were now multiple incidents involving vehicles linked to Obi being clamped at airports, the development could indicate a pattern that deserved closer public scrutiny.

“If we now have at least two separate incidents in which vehicles associated with Mr. Obi were clamped under questionable circumstances, does this not suggest a pattern of targeting an individual simply because of who he is?”

Idris also disputed claims that Obi’s vehicle remained parked for about 30 minutes, insisting that the entire sequence—from the vehicle’s arrival to its eventual clamping—lasted approximately five minutes.

He questioned the basis of the 30-minute claim, noting that many international airports allow vehicles a short window to drop off or pick up passengers before enforcement measures are taken.

“The entire sequence of events you referenced, from arrival to the eventual clamping of the vehicle, lasted approximately five minutes.

“At most airports around the world, including major international airports, a ten-minute drop-off window is generally considered acceptable. Where, then, did the claim of 30 minutes originate?”

The Obi spokesperson further alleged that several other vehicles parked in the same area were not subjected to similar enforcement by airport officials.

According to him, some of those vehicles had been parked before the arrival of the vehicle linked to Obi, yet they were neither clamped nor sanctioned.

He also referenced previous airport controversies involving former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1), questioning why similar official attention, including the release of CCTV footage, was not given to those incidents.

“Where was this same enthusiasm to instigate public outrage and issue official condemnations? Was CCTV footage from those incidents also released, or was the CCTV system only activated when it involved Mr. Peter Obi?” he asked.

The controversy follows Obi’s recent allegation that he had repeatedly experienced intimidation and harassment at Nigerian airports. In response, Keyamo released the CCTV footage, insisting that airport officials merely enforced existing parking regulations and denying any form of political victimisation.

The exchange has continued to generate debate across social media and political circles, with supporters of both men offering contrasting interpretations of the events. While Obi’s camp insists the minister relied on footage from a different incident, the Aviation Ministry maintains that the released video demonstrates that airport officials acted within established operational guidelines.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Peter Obi nor Festus Keyamo had issued any additional statement beyond those already released by their respective camps.

Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

Heavy rainfall triggers deadly landslides in Cross River, five confirmed dead

At least five people, including four children, have been confirmed dead after devastating landslides triggered by 48 hours of torrential rainfall struck the Ikot Anwatim community in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, destroying homes, injuring residents and displacing several families.

The tragic incident, which has thrown the community into mourning, also left two other residents injured and destroyed two residential buildings, according to the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA).

The agency confirmed the casualties during a rapid assessment of the affected area conducted on Saturday by its Director-General, Efa Nyong, alongside officials of the disaster management unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

Speaking during the assessment, Nyong conveyed the condolences of the Cross River State Government to the bereaved families and described the deaths—particularly those of the four children—as heartbreaking.

He assured victims that the state government would provide humanitarian support while working with relevant agencies to assist affected families and reduce the impact of future disasters.

“This assessment will document the disaster’s impact to guide government decisions on emergency assistance and long-term disaster risk reduction,” Nyong said.

He urged residents living in communities vulnerable to landslides and erosion to promptly report visible land cracks, monitor changes in the terrain and comply with evacuation directives whenever issued by emergency authorities.

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According to him, climate-related disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, making it necessary for governments, communities and humanitarian organisations to strengthen disaster preparedness, early warning systems and public awareness.

Nyong noted that the rapid assessment reflected CR-SEMA’s commitment to proactive disaster response, coordinated emergency management and the protection of lives and property across the state.

The assessment team recommended the immediate provision of relief materials, temporary shelter and humanitarian assistance for affected families, as well as continued medical care for the injured survivors.

It also called for a comprehensive geotechnical assessment of the affected area to determine the stability of the terrain and recommend long-term engineering solutions to prevent similar disasters.

In addition, the team advocated intensified public sensitisation on the dangers of landslides, improved environmental management and the possible relocation of residents living in high-risk areas as the rainy season continues.

An affected resident, Bassey Patrick, commended the emergency response team for arriving promptly despite the difficult conditions.

He appealed for urgent government intervention, saying many families had not only lost loved ones but also their homes and means of livelihood.

“We have lost our children, our neighbours and our homes. We need urgent assistance because many families have nowhere to stay,” he said.

The tragedy comes as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has repeatedly warned of above-normal rainfall and increased risks of flooding, landslides and erosion in several parts of the country during the 2026 rainy season. Emergency management experts have urged residents in vulnerable communities to remain alert and heed official weather advisories to minimise casualties.

Environmental experts say uncontrolled development on fragile hillsides, poor drainage systems, deforestation and the effects of climate change have increased the frequency of landslides in parts of southern Nigeria. They have called for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, improved urban planning and sustained investment in erosion-control infrastructure.

The latest disaster adds to a growing list of weather-related emergencies recorded across Nigeria this year, underscoring the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, climate resilience and coordinated emergency response at all levels of government.

Heavy rainfall triggers deadly landslides in Cross River, five confirmed dead

Former okada rider excretes 100 wraps of methamphetamine after arrest at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an okada rider, after he allegedly excreted 100 wraps of methamphetamine he swallowed in Uganda in an attempt to smuggle the illicit drug into Nigeria.

The arrest, described by the anti-narcotics agency as another breakthrough in its fight against transnational drug trafficking, was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, and shared on the agency’s official X account.

According to the agency, the suspect had worked as an okada rider in Lagos for about 15 years before allegedly joining an international drug trafficking syndicate in search of better financial opportunities.

The NDLEA said intelligence gathered by its operatives led to the suspect’s interception shortly after he arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on a commercial flight from Uganda.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly ingested 100 wraps of methamphetamine before boarding the flight to Nigeria, hoping to evade airport security and anti-drug screening procedures.

Following his arrest, the suspect was placed under medical observation by NDLEA officers, where he reportedly excreted all 100 wraps of the suspected illicit substance over a monitored period. The agency said the recovered exhibits have been secured while forensic examination and further investigations continue.

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Investigators believe the suspect was working for a transnational drug trafficking network operating across East and West Africa. The NDLEA said efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate, including those who recruited him and those expected to receive the drug consignment in Nigeria.

Reacting to the incident, the NDLEA said the suspect’s attempt to improve his financial status through drug trafficking ended in failure.

In a post on its official X account, the agency stated:

“After 15 years of working as an okada rider in Lagos, this individual decides he needed to forcefully upgrade and change his social status by joining a transnational drug trafficking organisation.”

“That dream has not only crumbled now but is ending in premium tears following his arrest at the Lagos airport by NDLEA officers after excreting a whopping 100 wraps of methamphetamine he ingested in far away Uganda.”

The anti-narcotics agency also released a video showing aspects of the arrest and recovery process, describing the operation as evidence of its sustained intelligence-led strategy against international drug trafficking.

The latest arrest comes amid intensified surveillance by the NDLEA at Nigeria’s airports, seaports and land borders as the agency continues to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates using the country as a transit route or destination for illicit narcotics.

The agency has repeatedly warned Nigerians against participating in drug trafficking, noting that criminal organisations often lure unsuspecting individuals with promises of quick financial gains, only for them to face arrest, prosecution and possible imprisonment.

Security experts say the use of human couriers who swallow illicit drugs remains one of the most dangerous methods employed by international drug traffickers because of the significant health risks involved, including poisoning, internal injury and death if the drug packages rupture inside the body.

The suspect is expected to be charged in court after investigations are concluded in accordance with the provisions of the NDLEA Act and other applicable laws governing drug-related offences in Nigeria.

Former okada rider excretes 100 wraps of methamphetamine after arrest at Lagos airport