By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Controversy has followed the disruption of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi’s visit to Benue State, as the police and the state government gave differing accounts over whether authorities were notified of the trip.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, was reportedly prevented from entering Makurdi on Tuesday after a group of youths blocked his convoy and chanted, “Obi, go back.”
He was scheduled to visit Yelewata community to sympathise with victims of last year’s deadly attack and distribute relief materials, including food and other essential items.
The NDC presidential candidate had last week visited Efeyi Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area, where more than 18 people were reportedly killed by suspected armed herders, and made donations to affected families.
A source told our correspondent that Obi had barely left the airport and crossed a checkpoint near the Nigerian Air Force base when hundreds of youths blocked the road, forcing his convoy to turn back.
Police Confirm Prior Notification
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, confirmed that the command had received information about Obi’s visit and deployed personnel to provide security.
“Yesterday night, we got information that His Excellency, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, would be coming, not for a campaign but just to visit Yelewata,” Nwadiogbu said.
“I said okay, everybody has freedom of movement in Nigeria, so I will provide security.”
According to the police commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations was directed to personally lead the security team accompanying Obi.
“Unfortunately, on his arrival, we heard that the youths blocked the road, saying they did not want to see him. That is the reason we are going to find out why such conduct occurred and why the youths behaved that way,” he said.
Nwadiogbu said the police had brought the immediate situation under control but would investigate the incident and identify those responsible.
“We have tactically managed the situation for now, but we are not letting it go. We must get to the bottom of why the youths said somebody could not move into the state. We will investigate and arrest anyone responsible for this act,” he added.
The police commissioner described Obi as “a very responsible man,” saying the former Anambra governor turned back after learning that the road had been blocked.
Benue Govt Says It Was Not Notified
However, Benue State Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, said the state government did not receive formal notification of Obi’s visit.
Iorpev argued that, given Obi’s status as a former governor and prominent political figure, he should have formally informed the state government to enable it to make adequate security arrangements.
“Coming into the state, he should have written a letter to the state government. We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety,” he said.
The commissioner also accused Obi of repeatedly visiting the state without formally notifying the government, while maintaining that Benue remained peaceful and hospitable.
Asked whether the state government knew the youths who blocked Obi’s convoy, Iorpev said he could not identify them.
He explained that a meeting involving youths from the state’s 23 local government areas was expected to take place and suggested that some participants might have been travelling through the area at the time of Obi’s visit.
“If they were coming from Tarka, Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, Konshisha or Vandeikya at the same time as his visit and blocked the road, it is unfortunate. I do not know the youths who did that,” Iorpev said.
The incident has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the disruption, particularly as the police confirmed receiving prior information about Obi’s visit while the state government maintained that it had not been formally notified.
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