Peter Obi Alleges ‘Hired Thugs’ Blocked Visit to Yelwata Massacre Victims in Benue
By Chibuzo Obidike
Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has alleged that “hired thugs” blocked his convoy from reaching Yelwata in Benue State, where he had planned to visit families affected by the June 2025 massacre.
Obi said he arrived in Benue at about 9am on Tuesday for what he described as a humanitarian visit, but claimed that his convoy was stopped by youths chanting, “Peter Obi, go back.”
In a statement titled “How Hired Thugs Obstructed My Visit to Benue State,” Obi said he was visiting the community to mourn with families who lost loved ones and offer support, rather than engage in partisan politics.
He expressed concern over the incident, saying Nigerians should be able to travel, farm and live without fear, while insisting that the protection of human life must remain the government’s foremost responsibility.
However, the Benue State Government said it was unaware of Obi’s visit. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kula Tersoo, questioned why the state government had not been officially informed ahead of the movement.
But the NDC governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, disputed the claim, saying security agencies were informed of Obi’s visit and had deployed personnel to accompany him.
The Benue State Police Command also confirmed that it was aware of Obi’s movement to Yelwata and that police operatives provided security for the convoy.
Police spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, however, said the reason some youths blocked the convoy remained unclear, adding that the command was monitoring the situation and investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The development has therefore raised questions over what happened on the road to Yelwata, with conflicting accounts emerging from Obi, the Benue State Government, his party’s governorship candidate and the Police Command.
Obi said although he could not reach the grieving families, his commitment to the victims remained unchanged, insisting that Nigeria must restore the security of every citizen before the country can truly claim to have built the nation its people deserve.
