The Benue State Government has rejected allegations by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, that thugs working for the state government blocked him from accessing Yelewata community in the state on Tuesday.
Obi had said his convoy encountered “thugs” who mounted a roadblock on the Makurdi-Gboko federal highway while he was travelling to Yelewata to console families affected by the 2025 attacks.
But the state government, in a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement in the incident and described Obi’s allegation as unfounded.
The government said the claim was an attempt to drag Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Benue State Government into what it described as a possible internal political matter within the NDC.
“We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about,” Kula said.
The statement also questioned whether Obi visited Makurdi on Tuesday, citing what it described as his antecedents of making untrue statements against the state.
The government said Obi was not a threat to Governor Alia, adding that even if he posed any security concern, recognised security agencies, rather than thugs, would be responsible for handling such a situation.
It said Governor Alia was committed to peace and the rule of law, insisting that his administration does not “engage, patronize, or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security.”
According to the statement, the governor relies on recognised security agencies to maintain peace and order across the state.
The government also questioned the circumstances surrounding Obi’s visit, saying it was curious that a presidential candidate could arrive in the state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movement.
It said such a visit would ordinarily require security coordination involving the Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies.
“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,” the statement said.
The state government said the Alia administration would not be distracted by what it described as attempts to manufacture political controversies, adding that its focus remained on good governance, security and the welfare of Benue residents.
It therefore urged the public to disregard allegations linking the state government to the incident involving Obi.
Earlier, Obi had called for a non-violent campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections and urged young Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as tools by the ruling class.
Speaking to journalists in Makurdi after the incident, Obi said his convoy was blocked by youths while he was heading to Yelewata to console and show solidarity with families affected by the killings.
“It is ridiculous. Our experience this morning is very very worrisome. We arrived Makurdi at 9 AM, but on our way to the Yelewata community, to console and show solidarity with the family affected by the killings of over 270 persons in that community, and support them in any way I can, only to be blocked by thugs shouting, ‘Peter Obi go back!. Peter Obi go back!’”
Obi said he did not want to force his way through the blockade because that could cause confusion and endanger other people.
He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to intervene, saying, “This rascality cannot be allowed.”
“We can not go on this way. This is unacceptable,” Obi said.
The development followed a similar incident last year, when the Benue State Government barred Obi from visiting internally displaced persons in the state without express approval.
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