Tension in Benue as Suspected Thugs Attack Peter Obi’s Convoy, Block Access
There was tension in Benue State on Tuesday after suspected political thugs allegedly attacked the convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), blocking a major road in an attempt to prevent him from entering the state.
The incident occurred shortly after Obi and his entourage arrived in Benue State. Esther Umoh, Obi’s campaign photographer and official documentarian, disclosed the development in a post on X accompanied by videos of the incident. According to Umoh, the suspected thugs blocked Boko Road near the Air Force Base, allegedly in a bid to stop the former Anambra State governor from gaining access into the state. “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 wrote. In a second post, Umoh shared videos of the incident with the caption, “This is madness”.
In one of the videos shared by Umoh, Obi’s convoy could be seen turning back as a group of men carrying what appeared to be clubs, stones, sticks and other objects pursued the vehicles. The men were also seen throwing objects towards the convoy as it attempted to leave the area. Another video showed a detachment of policemen positioned between the convoy and the group. However, the suspected thugs appeared to breach the police line and continued pursuing the convoy, forcing the convoy to turn and leave the area. Reports have linked the alleged obstruction to suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, although the claim has not been independently verified. Some of Obi’s supporters have also accused Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia of involvement in the incident, a claim that also remains unsubstantiated.
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Despite the disruption, Obi told News Central TV that the roadblock would not deter him from continuing his nationwide political engagements. He insisted that he would continue taking his campaign message across the country regardless of such incidents. The incident comes shortly after Obi visited parts of Benue State during a wider political tour across Kogi, Benue and Enugu states. He had reportedly stopped in Otukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area, where he interacted with residents and traders, who raised concerns over insecurity, unemployment, healthcare and education. He also urged supporters to participate actively in the democratic process and protect their votes ahead of the 2027 elections.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Government and the police had yet to publicly react to the latest allegations. The NDC had also not issued an official statement on the development. The alleged attack comes amid heightened security concerns in Benue, where several communities have suffered killings, abductions and destruction of property in recent months. In August 2026, Obi visited Otukpo-Nobi and Efeyi-Ugboju communities where recent attacks left several people dead, missing and injured. During that visit, he described the attacks as a national security emergency and called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to protect lives and property. The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about political violence and freedom of movement ahead of the 2027 general elections. Security agencies are expected to clarify what happened on the Airport-Boko Road and determine whether any individuals were involved in an attempt to prevent Obi from entering Benue State.