Benue Govt Reacts to Peter Obi’s Blocked Convoy

The Benue State Government has denied deploying thugs to block the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, from accessing Yelwata in the state.

The government also rejected Obi’s allegation that state-sponsored thugs blocked his convoy along Gboko Road, saying it was not informed of his visit through the required protocol channels.

The Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, made the position known in a statement issued on Tuesday in response to Obi’s allegation.

Kula described the allegation as unfounded and said the state government doubted that the presidential candidate visited Makurdi, the state capital.

“We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has any idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about.

“Based on his antecedents of making untrue statements against the state, we have every reason to doubt whether he visited Makurdi, the state capital today,” Kula said.

Obi had earlier been prevented from proceeding along Gboko Road in Makurdi after youths barricaded the road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport.

The youths, who chanted, “We don’t want Peter Obi,” reportedly blocked the road for hours, disrupting traffic as Obi’s convoy was held back.

Speaking at the scene, Obi said he was informed that youths led by a Special Assistant to the state government had decided to block the road and prevent him from proceeding to Yelwata.

“I was told that youths, led by an SA (Special Assistant) to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there.

“The rascality they are bringing into this country is totally unacceptable. People are being killed every day in Benue. People want to show that they are with them, and I came here all the way this morning, a long distance, only to be told what you are seeing here,” Obi said.

In a statement later issued through his X handle, Obi said he was in Benue on a humanitarian mission and planned to visit families of victims of the June 2025 massacre in Yelwata.

He later proceeded to Plateau State after the unsuccessful attempt to visit Benue.

However, Kula denied any involvement by Alia in the incident, saying Obi was not a threat to the governor.

He said even if Obi had visited the state and was considered a threat, security agencies, rather than thugs, were responsible for handling such situations.

“Let it be known that Mr. Peter Obi is not a threat to Governor Alia in any way.

“Even if he actually visited the state, and we realized that he is a threat to anyone, the security agencies are there to handle the issue, not thugs,” he said.

Kula said Alia’s administration did not “engage, patronize, or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security.”

He added that the governor remained committed to the rule of law and relied on recognised security agencies to maintain peace and order in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary also questioned why Obi, as a presidential candidate, would visit the state without formally notifying the relevant security authorities.

“It is therefore curious that an individual presenting himself as a presidential candidate could arrive in a state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movement.

“Ordinarily, such a visit would attract the attention and necessary security coordination involving the Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies,” Kula said.

The statement came hours after the state government said it was unaware of Obi’s visit.

However, the Benue State Police Command confirmed that it knew about his movement to Yelwata and that police operatives provided security for the movement.

The governorship candidate of the NDC in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, also said the police and the Department of State Services had been informed about Obi’s visit.

Kula said the state government found it difficult to understand Obi’s attempt to link the incident to Alia and the state government.

“If Mr. Obi is confronted with disagreements or internal political challenges within his party structure in Benue State, those issues should be resolved within the party rather than being conveniently transferred to the State Government,” he said.

The Chief Press Secretary urged the public to disregard allegations linking the state government to the incident.

He said Benue remained open to legitimate visitors, political actors and Nigerians who came to the state in peace.