ABUJA — The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the alleged obstruction of its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, from accessing Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue to commiserate with families affected by the 2025 killings.
The party made its position known in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Osa Director, following the incident in which Obi’s convoy was stopped by youths along the Makurdi-Gboko road while he was on his way to Yelwata.
The NDC alleged that the youths were suspected thugs, purportedly led by an aide to Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and that they prevented Obi from proceeding to the community, where the party said more than 270 people were reportedly killed in the attack.
The Benue State Government, however, denied involvement in the incident. In a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, the government described the allegation as unfounded and said Obi had not followed the required protocol by formally notifying the state government of his visit.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed that Obi’s convoy was blocked and said it had commenced investigation to determine why some youths stopped the movement.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the police had provided security for Obi’s movement to Yelwata and were informed that the visit was not for political campaigning but to commiserate with victims of the attack.
According to the NDC, Obi arrived in Benue at about 9 a.m. on Tuesday with the intention of visiting victims and families affected by the killings.
Obi was quoted as saying that his convoy was stopped from proceeding to the community by people chanting, “Peter Obi, go back.”
“I came to Benue not for politics but to mourn with our people, to listen to families who have lost loved ones, and to offer our solidarity,” Obi said.
The NDC said the planned visit was intended to enable Obi to mourn with affected families, offer solidarity and listen to victims on measures to prevent further tragedies.
The party said Benue residents and Nigerians deserved to live peacefully, travel safely and farm their lands without fear.
It called on the Benue State Government and relevant security agencies to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure the safety of citizens and political leaders visiting communities affected by violence.
The NDC said although Obi was denied access to Yelwata, its thoughts and prayers remained with the victims, their families and the entire community.
It said it would continue to advocate the protection of lives and the safety of Nigerians across the country.
Background
The Yelwata incident followed the deadly attack on the community in June 2025. Human Rights Watch said the attack occurred on the night of June 14, 2025, while contemporary reports cited varying casualty figures, including more than 100 deaths. A later conflict-monitoring report by Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution put the estimated toll at between 200 and 300.
In February 2026, Nigerian prosecutors filed terrorism-related charges against nine men over the 2025 Yelwata massacre, with Reuters reporting that the case related to an attack that killed approximately 150 people.
The controversy over Obi’s visit has therefore generated competing accounts: while the NDC alleged that politically connected thugs deliberately obstructed the presidential candidate, the Benue Government denied sponsoring or authorising the blockade.
The police, meanwhile, confirmed the obstruction and said an investigation was underway.
