Tension erupted in Benue State on Tuesday after suspected thugs reportedly blocked and attacked the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, shortly after he arrived in the state.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred along Boko Road, near the Nigerian Air Force Base, as Obi and members of his entourage attempted to proceed into the state.
Multiple reports said a group of men, some reportedly armed with sticks and other objects, blocked the road and prevented the convoy from moving forward.
It was gathered that a stick-wielding mob blocked the convoy, and viral videos from the scene showed men carrying what appeared to be clubs, stones and sticks pursuing the vehicles.
Videos shared by Obi’s media aide and campaign photographer, Esther Umoh, showed the convoy turning back as the crowd gathered on the road.
In one of the videos, policemen could be seen positioned between the convoy and the group, although the crowd reportedly moved past the police line and continued towards the vehicles.
Umoh alleged that the men were sponsored thugs who had deliberately blocked Boko Road to prevent Obi from gaining access to parts of 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 said in a post accompanying the videos.
The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the identities of those involved and who may have organised the blockade, remained unclear as of Tuesday afternoon.
Obi speaks
Obi later explained that his visit to Benue was not for political campaigning, but to sympathise with communities affected by recent killings in the state.
“I am in Benue today not for campaigns. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives, to condole and show solidarity with them,” Obi said after the incident.
He described the development as a reflection of what he called the declining level of political tolerance in Nigeria and renewed his call for politics centred on unity.
According to reports, Obi had intended to visit Yelwata, where residents were affected by a deadly attack, as part of his humanitarian visit.
The reported confrontation also revived memories of a previous disagreement between Obi and the Benue State Government over a planned visit to the state in April 2025.
At the time, the state government had warned against high-profile visits without prior approval, while Obi questioned the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of his planned humanitarian visit.
As of the latest reports, there was no official statement from the Benue State Government or the police identifying those responsible for the incident or confirming allegations that the blockade was politically sponsored.