A trip by NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi to Yelwata, Benue State, was disrupted on Tuesday after his convoy was blocked and assaulted along Boko Road near the Air Force Base.
Obi had gone to the state to meet survivors of the 2025 Yelwata massacre.
According to his media aide and photographer, Esther Umoh, who posted on X, suspected political thugs mounted a roadblock to stop the former Anambra governor from reaching the community.
Video clips from the scene showed a crowd approaching the convoy vehicles. In others, objects believed to be stones were hurled at the entourage. The footage also captured police officers speaking with some of those at the barricade, prompting questions about the security cover for the visit.
Members of Obi’s team accused the Benue State Government and officials of the ruling party of orchestrating the obstruction to prevent him from interacting with victims and spotlighting insecurity in the area.
There was no official reaction from the Benue State Government or the police command at the time of filing this report.
The incident comes as political activities pick up ahead of 2027. Obi has repeatedly faulted the federal and state governments over killings in Benue and across the North-Central, and has made several visits to affected communities.
Yelwata gained national attention last year after an overnight attack left scores dead. The tragedy became a key talking point on government failure to secure vulnerable communities.
Tuesday’s disruption is expected to intensify debate on access for opposition figures to crisis zones and on whether security agencies are doing enough to protect political leaders and citizens moving through volatile areas.
Source/Tony Okafor/Facebook
