Says.. “We Refused to Behave Like the Government”
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Peter Obi has condemned the attack on his convoy in Benue State, warning that governors who deploy thugs against political opponents risk pushing citizens to self-help.
“We too have followers and people who can confront these people on our own if the state and the government can no longer provide us security,” Obi said in Jos on Tuesday, hours after the incident.
“I’m using this occasion to appeal to the IG of police, the Director of DSS, and other agencies to please intervene and call various state governors to order. I was a governor myself. This rascality cannot be allowed.”
The convoy was blocked at Gyado Villa along Gboko Road on Tuesday while Obi was en route to Yelwata to commiserate with survivors of the 2025 massacre.
His media aide, Esther Umoh, alleged the roadblock was mounted by suspected thugs acting on the orders of Benue government officials.
Videos from the scene showed crowds advancing toward the vehicles and objects being thrown at the entourage. Some footage also captured police officers interacting with those at the barricade.
“I am here in a place where people have been killed. I am here to commiserate with them, but now I have been told that youths sponsored by the governor have blocked the road and made sure I do not go in,” Obi said.
“We did not proceed because we cannot behave as rascally as the government. We would have confronted them. I call on the government to stop this anarchy; it consumes everybody.”
Obi described the disruption as the second attack on him this year, referencing an earlier incident in Benin City where gunshots were reportedly fired at him and other political leaders.
He urged that the 2027 campaigns focus on national issues instead of intimidation.
“We need unity, love, justice, and let this campaign be concentrated on ideas and issues that concern Nigerians today like insecurity, hunger, killings, and how we are going to pull our people out of poverty. That’s what it should be.”
The Benue State Government said it was unaware 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,” said Kula Tersoo, Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“Our government doesn’t patronize thugs and in any case Obi is not a threat to the governor.”
The Benue Police Command confirmed it was aware Obi was coming to the state. As of press time, neither the government nor the police had issued a statement on the alleged attack.
Yelwata gained national attention in 2025 after an overnight assault left scores dead. Tuesday’s incident is likely to deepen debate on the safety of political leaders and access to communities affected by insecurity ahead of 2027.
