By Michael Ovat -Awka
The convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 general election, Mr Peter Obi, was on Tuesday reportedly prevented from proceeding to Yelwata in Benue State, where he was scheduled to meet survivors and victims of the 2025 massacre in the community.
The incident happened along the Boko Road, near the Air Force Base, shortly after Obi arrived in the state, according to report.
Obi’s media aide and official photographer, Esther Umoh, alleged in a post on X that suspected sponsored thugs had blocked the road in an attempt to prevent the former Anambra State governor from gaining access to Yelwata.
Videos reportedly circulated from the scene showed people moving towards vehicles in the convoy, while other footage appeared to show stones being thrown in the direction of the entourage, according to the report.
The development has raised questions about the security arrangements surrounding Obi’s visit, particularly after footage from the scene purportedly showed some police officers interacting with members of the group blocking the road.
Obi’s team alleged that the roadblock was organised by the Benue State Government and operatives of the ruling party to prevent the politician from meeting victims of attacks in the state and drawing attention to the security situation in the affected communities.
Neither the Benue State Government nor the state police command had, as of the time of the report, issued an official statement on the incident or the allegations concerning the police officers.
The confrontation comes against the backdrop of renewed political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections and Obi’s sustained criticism of the government’s handling of insecurity in Benue and other states in the North-Central region.
Obi had previously visited communities affected by attacks in Benue and called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.
Yelwata was the scene of one of the deadliest attacks in Benue in 2025, when scores of people were killed during an overnight assault on the community.
The massacre attracted national and international attention and became a major point of discussion in debates over the government’s response to insecurity in the state.
Tuesday’s incident is therefore likely to generate further controversy, particularly over the right of political leaders and candidates to visit communities affected by violence and the responsibility of security agencies to guarantee their safety and freedom of movement.
