.
.
.
MAKURDI, BENUE STATE — September 8, 2026
Tension gripped Benue State on Tuesday morning after suspected armed thugs blocked the convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), shortly after his arrival in the state for a planned visit to survivors of the Yelwata massacre.
What Happened
The obstruction occurred along Boko Road, near the Air Force Base, as Obi’s entourage attempted to proceed toward Yelwata. Esther Umoh, Obi’s media aide and official photographer, disclosed the incident in videos posted to her X handle shortly after it unfolded.
“We have just arrived in Benue State, where alleged sponsored thugs have blocked Boko Road by the Air Force Base, attempting to prevent Peter Obi from gaining access into the state,” Umoh wrote.
Additional footage circulating from the scene showed individuals running toward vehicles in Obi’s convoy, an action his team says was an attempt to physically confront the entourage. Other footage has shown stones being thrown in the direction of the convoy.
Police Under Scrutiny
Adding to the controversy, video from the scene appears to show officers of the Benue State Police Command greeting, saluting, and shaking hands with members of the group blocking the road — a moment that has quickly drawn criticism online and raised questions about whether security personnel were complicit in the obstruction rather than enforcing free passage for a presidential candidate’s convoy.
Obi’s Team Points to the State Government
Members of Obi’s campaign say the roadblock was arranged by the Benue State Government and operatives of the ruling party to prevent him from meeting with victims of the recent violent attacks on Benue communities, including the Yelwata massacre, which left the region devastated and has remained a politically sensitive flashpoint. His team frames the incident as a deliberate move to keep him from bearing witness to, and drawing national attention toward, the scale of the killings in the state.
Obi has been vocal in recent months about the deteriorating security situation in Benue, Plateau, and Niger states, repeatedly calling on the federal government to take stronger action against the wave of killings, abductions, and destruction of communities across Nigeria’s North-Central region.
No Official Response Yet
As of press time, neither the Benue State Police Command nor the Benue State Government has issued a public statement addressing the incident or the footage showing police interacting with the group that blocked the road.
Political Backdrop
The incident lands squarely in the run-up to the 2027 general elections, with Obi’s outreach to Benue communities affected by recent violence seen as a central plank of his campaign messaging on insecurity. Critics of the trip’s timing have suggested it coincides with the start of active campaigning, while Obi’s supporters argue the blockade only underscores the urgency of the security crisis he has been highlighting — and will further galvanize support for his candidacy.
