Hours after leaving Benue State, following an attack on his convoy, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arrived in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Earlier, youths suspected of being political thugs barricaded a major access road in Benue State to prevent Obi from reaching Makurdi, the state capital.
Obi said the youths stopped his convoy at Gyado Villa along Gboko Road while he travelled to Yelewata to visit relatives of victims of the June 2025 massacre.
He said: “I’m using this occasion to appeal to the IG of police, the Director of DSS, and other agencies to please intervene and call various state governors to order, I was a governor myself. This rascality cannot be allowed, we have a country, we too have followers and people who can confront these people on our own if the state and the government can no longer provide us security.
“We cannot go on this way, it’s not acceptable. This was why when I participated in the presidential campaign office launch of APM yesterday, I said we need unity, love, justice, and let this campaign be concentrated on ideas and issues that concerns Nigerians today like insecurity, hunger, insecurity, killings, and how we are going to pull our people out of poverty, that’s what it should be.”
Reacting to the incident, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has warned that the perpetrators were “playing with fire.”
Similarly, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Obi’s running mate for the 2027 general election, urged the international community to protect opposition figures.
Backstory…
Tension gripped Benue State on Tuesday after suspected thugs reportedly attacked Peter Obi. The incident occurred during the Nigeria Democratic Congress Party leader’s visit to the state. Details remain sketchy at press time.
Esther Umoh, Obi’s media aide, announced the incident and shared a video on her X handle showing the blocked route. Umoh said the incident occurred shortly after Obi and his entourage arrived in Benue State.
The attack comes amid heightened political activity in the North Central region. Obi has intensified his nationwide engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections. His recent visits to volatile areas have drawn both crowds and controversy.
Read Also: Peter Obi Attacked by Suspected Thugs in Benue State
Obi ignored protocol, courting trouble – Benue commissioner
Meanwhile, Benue State Commissioner for Information Solomon Iorpev has accused Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, of seeking a confrontation with the state government.
Iorpev made the allegation on Tuesday after some youths blocked Obi’s convoy. He said Obi had earlier disregarded protocol by failing to formally notify the state government of his visit despite his status.
The commissioner said Obi is a prominent figure and former governor. He added that the host state should provide security for him.
He said, “A high-profile person who has been a former governor of a state is coming into the state; he should have written a letter to the State Government.
“We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety.
“This is not the first time he is doing this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace loving and hospitable people.”
Read Also: Benue State Government Denies Knowledge of Peter Obi’s Visit
