Thugs block Peter Obi’s convoy in Benue

The convoy of Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was reportedly blocked by a mob in Benue State on Tuesday while the former Anambra governor was attempting to access the state.

The incident occurred along Gboko Road, where a group of stick-wielding individuals allegedly stopped Obi’s convoy as it made its way into the state.

Videos shared by Obi’s photographer, Esther Umoh, showed the mob blocking the road and moving towards the convoy.

According to Umoh, the road was the only route from the airport into town, and the group prevented Obi from reaching his intended destination.

“This is Gboko road; the entire road is blocked. We just touched down, and this is the only road from the airport into town. They said Peter Obi is not coming into the town to see the people he wanted to see,” she said.

She described the development as unacceptable, calling for political engagements to be conducted without intimidation.

The Benue State Government, however, denied involvement in the incident.

Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, said the government was unaware of Obi’s visit and rejected claims that it could have used thugs to disrupt the movement of the presidential candidate.

“We are not aware whether he is in the state or not. If the Benue state government is to stop anybody, including Peter Obi, why would the Benue state government go and use thugs? Benue government doesn’t do that,” Kula said.

Speaking after the incident, Peter Obi explained that his visit to Benue was not campaign-related but aimed at showing solidarity with victims of insecurity in the state.

“I am in Benue not for a campaign. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives and console them, show solidarity with them,” Obi said.

He expressed concern over the state of political engagement in the country, saying the incident reflected the level to which politics had deteriorated.

Peter Obi added that his participation at the launch of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential campaign office in Abuja was part of his commitment to peaceful political engagement.

“We have no other country except this place, and we will build it on unity and love with a sense of doing the right thing,” he said.

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