Tension reportedly gripped Benue State on Tuesday after suspected thugs allegedly blocked a major road leading to Yelwata as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, arrived in the state for a condolence visit to victims of last year’s deadly attack.
Obi’s media aide, Esther Umoh, raised the alarm in a post on X, accompanied by a video purportedly showing the blocked route near the Air Force Base.
According to Umoh, the obstruction occurred shortly after Obi and his entourage arrived in Benue.
“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,” she wrote.
The development reportedly disrupted Obi’s planned visit to families affected by the Yelwata massacre, in which scores of residents were killed in an attack that attracted widespread condemnation.
An NDC chieftain who spoke to journalists at the scene alleged that the roadblock was carried out by individuals sponsored by the state government.
He said Obi had deliberately scheduled the condolence visit before the commencement of his campaign activities in the state to avoid politicising the tragedy.
“We were at the airport to receive him. And he is coming on a condolence visit now to visit the infamous Yelwata site where about a year ago about 271 people were massacred,” the NDC chieftain said.
He alleged that the thugs blocked the road and threw stones at Obi’s supporters, describing the incident as an attempt to prevent the former Anambra State governor from reaching the affected community.
The party chieftain, however, said the alleged obstruction would not deter Obi from expressing solidarity with the victims and their families.
He added that the incident demonstrated the need for a different approach to politics, insisting that Obi’s visit was motivated by empathy rather than campaigning.
Speaking on the development, Obi called for unity, justice and fairness in the country, saying Nigeria could only be rebuilt through collective efforts.
“We have no other country except this one. And we must all build this based on unity and a sense of doing the right thing,” Obi said.
He said he had not forgotten the previous occasion when he attempted to visit the area, adding that his latest trip was solely intended to sympathise with families affected by the killings.
Obi also criticised the nature of political activities in the country and urged politicians to embrace what he described as “the politics of unity, love, justice, and sense of being fair.”
The incident comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify, with Obi expected to commence campaign engagements in the state.
However, the allegation that the road was blocked by thugs sponsored by the Benue State Government had not been established as of the time of filing this report.
The Benue State Government and the police had also yet to publicly respond to the allegation or explain the circumstances surrounding the reported road blockade.
COURTESY: PoliticsNigeria
