Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has directed the police to identify those responsible for Tuesday’s blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy in Makurdi.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, disclosed this on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, during an interview with ARISE News.
Kula said the government became aware of the incident after photographs of the confrontation emerged and subsequently contacted the police, who confirmed that Obi’s convoy had been stopped.
According to him, Alia ordered the police to track down those suspected of involvement and question them as part of the investigation.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 8, as Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, travelled to Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area to meet residents affected by the June 2025 attack on the community.
His convoy was stopped by youths along the Gboko Road axis of Makurdi, preventing him from proceeding to Yelwata.
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Obi alleged that the youths were thugs acting with the backing of an aide to Governor Alia. The state government rejected the allegation and denied involvement in the incident.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed that it was aware of Obi’s movement and had deployed personnel to provide security. The command said it was investigating why the convoy was stopped.
Kula said the inquiry would establish who was responsible and clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The confrontation has revived an earlier disagreement between Obi and the Alia administration. In April 2025, the state government objected to a planned humanitarian visit by Obi to internally displaced persons in Benue, citing notification and security requirements. Obi subsequently shelved the visit.
Unlike that episode, which centred on the approval of a proposed visit, the latest dispute followed the physical stoppage of Obi’s convoy and has resulted in a police investigation.
The outcome of the inquiry is expected to determine the identities and roles of those involved in Tuesday’s incident.