Outrage As Benue Youths Block Peter Obi From Visiting Yelewata

The presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, was yesterday stopped by some Benue youths from visiting Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state, where he was scheduled to make personal donations to victims of the June 13, 2025, armed herdsmen attack.

The action of the youths drew scathing reactions from the NDC, its Vice President candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, human rights actibvist, Deji Adeyanju, and Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, who described the development as unacceptable.

It’s worrisome–Obi 

Obi, who arrived in Makurdi at about 9am, was on his way to Yelewata when the youths blocked the Makurdi-Gboko Road, less than two kilometres from the airport, chanting “Obi go back, Obi go back.”

Some of the youths were reportedly wielding sticks and throwing stones as security personnel deployed to the area watched the development.

Following the confrontation, Obi and members of his team turned back and returned to the airport where he boarded an aircraft and left the state.

Speaking before departing, Obi described the development as ridiculous and very worrisome, saying he had travelled to Benue to sympathise with families affected by the killings and support victims of the Yelewata attack.

He said: “It is ridiculous and very, very worrisome, our experience this morning. We arrived Benue, Makurdi precisely this morning at 9am, on our way to the Yelewata community to condole and show solidarity to the families affected by last year’s killings.

“As you know, there have been killings of over 270 persons in that community and I felt as we were starting our campaign that I should go around and be able to visit and condole the families, show respect to the dead and the community, support them in any way I can.

“Only to arrive Makurdi this morning and trying to drive out, I was blocked by teaming thugs, shouting ‘Obi go back, Obi go back.’ And I was wondering, are we still in Nigeria? Or am I in another country?

“But we know that even the campaigns have started, so I should be able to move around freely. But I discontinued because I didn’t want to say we must go on as we have our own teaming crowd, but not wanting to cause confusion and possibly endanger the lives of other people. I decided to remain as civil as possible.”

The former Anambra State governor appealed to the security agencies, particularly the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services and other relevant authorities, to intervene and ensure that political campaigns were conducted peacefully across the country.

Obi said:  “I am using this occasion to appeal to the security agencies, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, the Director of DSS and other agencies to please intervene and be able to call various state governors to order. This rascality cannot be allowed.

“We have a country and we too have followers. We have 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 is unacceptable.”

Issues-centred campaigns

He said the 2027 presidential campaign should be centred on issues affecting Nigerians, including insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killings and poverty, rather than violence and confrontation.

“I participated yesterday (Monday) in the commissioning of the office of the presidential candidate of APM appealing that we need unity, love, justice, and let this campaign be concentrated on ideas, issues that concern Nigerians today of insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killing and everything and how we are going to pull our people out of poverty. That is what it should be.

“I am not here to contest elections for office of the governor of Benue State. I have chosen as a presidential candidate that I want to visit every community, visit across Nigeria, which is what I’m urging other presidential candidates to do.

“Go around Nigeria so you can feel the people, see their faces, ask them questions and they ask you questions about what you want to do for them to be able to ameliorate the suffering Nigerians are going through today. That is why I am here today. Nothing else.

“I call on the youths that are being used. The abuse you are allowing them to use you for today will take its revenge on you. I have a lesser number of years to live in life. People are using you. They are not using their children. They are not using their relations. They are using you to stop opportunity of building a better life for you.

“All I want is to have a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. Where no Nigerian will go to bed without having food in his stomach. Without knowing where the next meal will come from. That’s all we want,’’ he said.

The NDC presidential candidate said Benue had the agricultural capacity to feed Nigeria but lamented that insecurity and lack of economic opportunities had deprived many youths of sustainable livelihoods.

He said: “Look at Benue, the state can feed Nigeria. It has arable lands where you can farm yam and lots of food crops. But today it has become a place where thugs thrive because they have no means of livelihood. And that is what we want to change.”

Obi further urged politicians and their supporters to avoid actions capable of plunging the country into anarchy, saying political contests should be determined by ideas and policies.

“We are not coming here fighting anybody because our elections will be run on ideas, on issues. And I urge people to please let’s concentrate on that. Let’s not allow a country to get into anarchy. Anarchy consumes everybody,” he said.