Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) after youths blocked his convoy from reaching Yelewata in Benue State on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Obi arrived in Makurdi at about 9am and was heading to Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, to commiserate with families affected by the June 13, 2025 attack and make personal donations to victims.
His convoy was stopped on the Makurdi-Gboko Road, reportedly less than two kilometres from the airport, as youths chanted, “Obi go back.” Some reportedly carried sticks, while stones were thrown during the confrontation.
Security personnel were deployed, but Obi turned back and later left the state.
Describing the incident as “ridiculous” and “very, very worrisome”, Obi said he declined to force his way through the crowd to prevent an escalation.
He urged security agencies to protect political actors ahead of the 2027 elections and called for an issue-based campaign focused on insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killings and poverty. He also cautioned youths against being used for political violence.
Benue Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the command was informed of Obi’s visit on Monday night and deployed security personnel, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
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He said officers responded to the road blockade and were investigating the circumstances surrounding it.
The state government, however, said it was not formally notified of the visit.
Commissioner for Information Solomon Iorpev said Obi should have communicated his itinerary to enable adequate security arrangements. He said he did not know who blocked the convoy and denied government involvement.
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, also denied that the administration sponsored anyone to obstruct Obi.
The incident follows a similar dispute in April 2025, when Obi abandoned a planned visit to internally displaced persons in Benue after the government raised security and protocol concerns.
His latest visit was prompted by the June 13–14, 2025 attack on Yelewata, which claimed hundreds of lives. A memorial unveiled in June 2026 honours 271 victims, including 66 children, 83 women and 122 men.
Nine suspects were arraigned in February 2026 over alleged involvement in the killings and pleaded not guilty.
Obi maintained that his visit was humanitarian and urged politicians to make the 2027 election a contest of ideas, policies and solutions rather than intimidation or violence.