The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and the Benue State Government on Tuesday traded blame over the disruption of his planned visit to Yelwata, Benue State, as some youths barricaded a major road in Makurdi and prevented his convoy from proceeding to the community.
Obi, who said he travelled to Benue to condole with families of victims of the Yelwata massacre, accused suspected hired thugs, allegedly acting on the orders of a government aide, of blocking his movement.
But the state government denied involvement in the incident, insisting that Obi failed to follow the necessary protocol by formally notifying the government of his visit and accusing him of attempting to create a political controversy.
The Yelwata attack occurred between June 13 and June 14, 2025.
The conflicting claims came even as the Benue State Police Command confirmed that it was aware of Obi’s visit and had deployed officers to provide security for his movement.
The police, however, said it was investigating why some youths stopped the presidential candidate’s convoy.
The incident occurred on Gboko Road, near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport, where protesters reportedly barricaded the road and chanted, “We don’t want Peter Obi.”
The development caused traffic disruption in the area for several hours and eventually forced Obi’s convoy to turn back to the airport before he returned to Jos, Plateau State.
Obi had arrived in the state as part of a planned visit to Yelwata, where more than 200 people were reportedly killed in an attack on the community in June 2025.
Speaking at the scene in a video posted by News Central Television via its X page on Tuesday, Obi said he was informed that youths had been mobilised to prevent him from proceeding to the community.
“I was told that youths, led by an SA (Special Assistant) to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor described the development as unacceptable, arguing that the youths involved were themselves victims of poverty and insecurity and should not be deployed for political purposes.
“The rascality they are bringing into this country is totally unacceptable. People are being killed every day in Benue. People want to show that they are with them, and I came here all the way this morning, a long distance, only to be told what you are seeing here,” he said.
Obi maintained that his planned visit was humanitarian and that his itinerary had not been concealed from the relevant authorities.
