The Benue State Government has denied allegations by Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that persons allegedly linked to the state government blocked his convoy and prevented him from proceeding to Yelwata on a humanitarian visit.
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The government rejected claims that the youths who barricaded Gboko Road in Makurdi on Tuesday were state-sponsored, insisting that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration neither engages nor deploys thugs as instruments of governance or security.
The denial came after videos circulated showing youths blocking the road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport while chanting, “We don’t want Peter Obi,” leaving Obi’s convoy unable to proceed for several hours.
Obi said at the scene that he had been informed that the youths were led by a Special Assistant to the state government and had been mobilised to stop him from reaching his destination.
“I was told that youths, led by an SA (Special Assistant) to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there,” Obi said.
“The rascality they are bringing into this country is totally unacceptable. People are being killed every day in Benue. People want to show that they are with them, and I came here all the way this morning, a long distance, only to be told what you are seeing here.”
Obi later said in a statement that he was in Benue on a humanitarian mission and intended to visit families affected by the June 2025 killings in Yelwata. He subsequently proceeded to Plateau State after failing to reach the Benue community.
Responding to the allegation, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, Tersoo Kula, said the state government had no knowledge of the incident alleged by Obi and questioned whether the visit had been properly communicated through official channels.
“We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has any idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about,” Kula said.
“Based on his antecedents of making untrue statements against the state, we have every reason to doubt whether he visited Makurdi, the state capital today.”
Kula also rejected suggestions that Governor Alia could have regarded Obi as a political threat.
“Let it be known that Mr. Peter Obi is not a threat to Governor Alia in any way,” he said.
“Even if he actually visited the state, and we realized that he is a threat to anyone, the security agencies are there to handle the issue, not thugs.”
According to the governor’s spokesman, the Alia administration does not “engage, patronize, or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security,” but relies on recognised security agencies to maintain law and order.
Kula further questioned why Obi, as a presidential candidate, would enter the state without formally notifying relevant security authorities.
“It is therefore curious that an individual presenting himself as a presidential candidate could arrive in a state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movement,” he said.
“Ordinarily, such a visit would attract the attention and necessary security coordination involving the Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies.”
However, the state government’s position that it was unaware of Obi’s visit contrasts with confirmation by the Benue State Police Command that it knew about his planned movement to Yelwata and provided police personnel for the trip.
The NDC governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, also said the police and the State Security Service had been informed about Obi’s visit.
Earlier, the state government had maintained that it was unaware of the visit and criticised what it described as Obi’s failure to observe appropriate protocol.
Kula also suggested that any difficulties Obi encountered could have arisen from disagreements within his political organisation rather than actions by the Benue State Government.
“If Mr. Obi is confronted with disagreements or internal political challenges within his party structure in Benue State, those issues should be resolved within the party rather than being conveniently transferred to the State Government,” he said.
The government urged members of the public to disregard allegations linking Governor Alia or his administration to the blockade, insisting that Benue remained open to legitimate visitors, political actors and other Nigerians visiting peacefully.
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