Benue Govt Reacts to Attack on Peter Obi’s Convoy, Says It Was Not Aware of His Visit

The Benue State Government has denied any involvement in the reported attack and obstruction of the convoy of former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate Peter Obi by some youths in the state on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

The government said it was not informed about Obi’s visit to Benue and therefore could not have made arrangements for his security or authorised anyone to prevent him from entering or moving around the state.

The incident reportedly occurred as Obi was travelling towards Yelewata to visit families affected by the deadly massacre that took place in the community in June 2025. His convoy was said to have been stopped by some youths at Gyado Villa along the Gboko Road, forcing the former governor to abandon the visit and return to Abuja.

Reacting to the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, Kula Tersoo, said the state government was surprised by the incident and insisted that no group of youths acted on behalf of the government.

Speaking in a conversation with Punch, Tersoo said the government was unaware that Obi was coming into Benue.

“We are not aware of his coming to the state,” he said, explaining that if security agencies had been responsible for stopping Obi, the government would have been able to establish what happened.

According to him, Obi, as a former governor and a presidential candidate, should ordinarily have been provided with adequate security protection, particularly when travelling within another state.

He questioned the absence of security personnel around the former governor during the reported incident and stressed that security agencies in a host state ought to be aware when prominent political figures visit.

“As presidential candidate of a party and former governor, he is a property of the Federal Government and ought to have been given security. Where are those security agents around him? And if he is going to any state, the security of the host state should know so as to provide security for him,” Tersoo said.

The governor’s spokesperson also expressed surprise that a group of youths could allegedly prevent Obi and his entourage from proceeding with their journey.

He maintained that youths had no authority to act on behalf of the Benue State Government and rejected any suggestion that the government could have sponsored or encouraged such an action.

“We were surprised that youth would stop someone. Youths cannot do anything on behalf of government,” he said.

Tersoo further stated that the state administration did not support the use of thugs or unofficial groups to carry out government activities.

“Our government doesn’t patronise thugs,” he added.

He also dismissed the suggestion that Obi’s visit could have posed any political threat to Governor Hyacinth Alia, stressing that the former governor was not regarded as a threat by the state government.

“In any case, Obi is not a threat to the governor. We are not aware that Obi is coming to Benue. I am hearing it from you,” Tersoo said.

The incident has generated reactions because of the purpose of Obi’s reported visit. The former governor was said to have been travelling to Yelewata to meet with families and communities affected by the June 2025 massacre, one of the most devastating attacks recorded in Benue in recent times.

The Yelewata attack, which attracted national attention, left scores of people dead and displaced many residents. The tragedy renewed concerns about insecurity in Benue and the safety of communities affected by recurring violence.

Obi’s decision to visit the affected families was therefore expected to be primarily humanitarian and aimed at expressing solidarity with victims and their relatives.

However, the reported obstruction of his convoy has now raised questions over security arrangements surrounding visits by major political figures, particularly former governors and presidential candidates.

The Benue State Government’s response suggests that there may have been a breakdown in communication between Obi’s team and security authorities in the state. Tersoo’s comments indicate that the government would have expected to receive prior information about such a high-profile visit so that appropriate security arrangements could be made.

The controversy also comes at a politically sensitive period, with political activities and discussions already intensifying ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections.

Obi remains a major figure in Nigerian politics and commands significant support, particularly among young Nigerians. His movements and public engagements frequently attract large crowds and considerable attention.

The circumstances surrounding Tuesday’s incident, however, remain unclear. It is yet to be established who the youths were, what motivated them to stop the convoy, whether they were acting independently or whether any individuals or groups directed them to do so.

The Benue Government has firmly distanced itself from the youths, saying that they did not act on its behalf.

Meanwhile, Obi has reportedly returned to Abuja following the incident, meaning his planned visit to the families of the Yelewata victims did not take place as scheduled.

The development is likely to fuel further calls for a full investigation into the incident to determine what happened, identify those responsible for obstructing the convoy and establish why adequate security arrangements were apparently not in place for the former governor’s movement.

As of Tuesday evening, there had been no indication from the Benue State Government that it had ordered or authorised anyone to prevent Obi from entering or travelling through the state.

The incident nonetheless highlights the importance of proper coordination between political figures, security agencies and state authorities whenever high-profile individuals undertake visits, particularly to communities affected by insecurity and previous violence.

For the families of the Yelewata victims, Obi’s aborted visit represents another postponement of an opportunity to receive solidarity from a prominent national political figure. Whether the former governor will reschedule the visit remains unclear.

The immediate focus, however, is expected to remain on establishing the identity and motives of the youths who reportedly stopped his convoy and determining how such an incident was allowed to occur despite Obi’s status as a former governor and presidential candidate.