Benue Govt Denies Involvement After Peter Obi’s Convoy Was Blocked on Way to Yelwata

The Benue State Government has denied involvement in the reported blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy during the presidential candidate’s visit to the state on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had travelled to Benue to visit families affected by the June 2025 Yelwata massacre but was unable to proceed after youths blocked the road around Gyado Villa along Gboko Road in Makurdi.

Videos circulating from the scene showed a crowd of youths blocking the road as Obi’s convoy waited before eventually turning back.

Obi later alleged that the youths had been mobilised by a government aide.

According to the former Anambra State governor, he was informed that a Special Assistant to the Benue State Government had organised the youths to prevent him from reaching Yelwata.

“I was told that youths, led by an SA to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there.”

Obi said his purpose for travelling to Benue was to sympathise with families affected by the killings and show solidarity with communities facing insecurity and poverty.

He maintained that the visit was not a campaign event.

“Today, I’m in Benue, not for campaign. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives, and condole them, show solidarity with them.”

The Benue State Government, however, rejected any suggestion that it was responsible for the incident.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, told PUNCH that the state government was not aware of Obi’s visit.

“We are not aware of his coming to the state, and if it were to be security agents that stopped him, it would have been easy for us to find out what happened.”

Tersoo also questioned the security arrangements around Obi, arguing that the visit should have been communicated to the relevant authorities so that adequate protection could be provided.

He stressed that the youths involved in the incident were not acting on behalf of the state government.

“We were surprised that youth would stop someone. Youths cannot do anything on behalf of government. Our government doesn’t patronise thugs and in any case Obi is not a threat to the governor.”

The government spokesman also said he was only learning about Obi’s visit when contacted by journalists.

The incident has produced competing accounts over whether the visit had been communicated to state authorities.

The NDC governorship candidate in Benue, Prof. Terhemba Shija, said Obi’s team had notified security agencies about the planned visit. He maintained that the former Anambra governor was travelling to Yelwata to meet families affected by the 2025 killings.

The Benue State Police Command has also reportedly acknowledged awareness of Obi’s movement and said its personnel provided security, while the reason the youths blocked the convoy remained under investigation.

The reported confrontation occurred along Gboko Road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport, shortly after Obi arrived in the state.

Obi eventually abandoned the trip and returned to Abuja after being unable to proceed to Yelwata. He said the incident would not prevent him from returning to the state.

“Of course, I’ll come back several times.”

The June 2025 attack in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, was one of the deadliest episodes of violence recorded in Benue in recent years and left numerous residents dead and others displaced.

The latest incident has therefore generated political controversy, coming as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.

For now, there is no independent evidence establishing that the youths who blocked Obi’s convoy were acting on the orders of the Benue State Government. Obi and his team have made the allegation, while the state government has expressly denied responsibility. The police investigation could provide further clarity on who organised the blockade and why.