Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) found his convoy blocked by a swarm of Benue youths yesterday, just a short distance from the Makurdi airport. Obi, who had arrived in the state capital at 9 am, was en route to the Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area. There, he planned to offer personal donations and condolences to families devastated by the armed herdsmen attack on June 13, 2025, which claimed over 270 lives.
The youths, reportedly armed with sticks and hurling stones, chanted "Obi go back, Obi go back" on the Makurdi-Gboko Road, a mere two kilometres from the airport. Security personnel present did not intervene forcefully as the situation escalated.
Faced with the aggressive reception and unwilling to risk lives or cause chaos, Obi and his entourage had no choice but to turn back to the airport, where he boarded a flight out of Benue State. "Ridiculous and very, very worrisome," Obi described the experience, questioning if he was still in Nigeria. He had intended to offer solidarity to the families affected by the killings, especially as his campaign was just beginning.
His party, the NDC, alongside Vice Presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), condemned the youth's actions, deeming them unacceptable and a dangerous precedent for the upcoming political season.
Obi urged security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, to step in. "We cannot go on this way. It is unacceptable," he stated, warning that his supporters could retaliate if the government failed to ensure security during political campaigns.
The NDC presidential hopeful stressed that the 2027 presidential campaign should focus on pressing national issues like insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, and poverty. He contrasted this with the violence he encountered, noting his recent participation in commissioning an office for the APM presidential candidate, where he advocated for unity and issue-based discussions.
He explained his mission was to connect with Nigerians directly, to feel their pulse, see their faces, and understand their suffering. "I am not here to contest elections for office of the governor of Benue State," he clarified. "I have chosen as a presidential candidate that I want to visit every community, visit across Nigeria." He encouraged other candidates to do the same, to truly engage with the electorate's plight.
Obi also addressed the youths involved, cautioning them against being used. "The abuse you are allowing them to use you for today will take its revenge on you," he warned. He lamented that those using them were not deploying their own children or relatives. "They are using you to stop opportunity of building a better life for you." He reiterated his vision for a Nigeria where opportunity is based on merit, not connections, and where no Nigerian goes hungry.
The attack on Mr. Obi is particularly concerning given the history of violence in Benue State. Yelewata, in Guma LGA, has been a flashpoint for the farmer-herder conflicts that have plagued the state for years, leading to significant loss of life and displacement.