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I Came To Benue To Mourn With Our People, Not For Partisan Politics-Obi
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NDC Condemns Attack, Demands Probe Into Yelwata Obstruction
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Benue Govt Fires Back At Obi, NDC, Denies Sending Thugs To Block Yelwata Visit
The controversy surrounding the deadly killings in Yelwata, Benue State, has taken a fresh political dimension as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, his party and the Benue State Government traded accusations over an alleged obstruction of his visit to the community.
TheMatrix Newspaper reports that Obi had alleged that his convoy was stopped by suspected thugs while he was attempting to visit grieving families affected by the Yelwata killings, which reportedly claimed more than 270 lives.
Obi, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said he travelled to Benue on a humanitarian mission to commiserate with families devastated by the killings but was stopped by a group chanting, “Peter Obi, go back.”
The former Anambra State governor described the incident as “deeply distressing,” insisting that his visit had nothing to do with partisan politics.
Obi said his decision to visit the troubled community followed his appearance on Monday at the opening of the national campaign office of opposition presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in Abuja.
According to him, his presence at the event was intended to demonstrate that political differences should not destroy mutual respect and civility.
He recalled that while serving as governor of Anambra State, he personally welcomed visiting opposition members during electioneering, provided they operated within the law.
“Guided by that same commitment to decency over partisanship, I travelled to Benue this morning, arriving at approximately 9:00 a.m. on a purely humanitarian mission: to visit the grieving families affected by the horrific killings in Yelwata,” he said.
But the visit, according to him, was abruptly disrupted when the convoy was allegedly confronted by thugs who prevented it from proceeding into the community.
“Regrettably, our convoy was prevented from proceeding to the community by thugs chanting, ‘Peter Obi, go back,’” Obi said.
He condemned the alleged obstruction, stressing that he had gone to Benue to mourn with victims, listen to grieving families and offer support at a time of profound tragedy.
“I came to Benue not for partisan politics, but to mourn with our people, to listen to families who have lost loved ones, and to offer comfort at a moment of unimaginable sorrow,” he said.
“That a mission intended purely to show solidarity, compassion, and support could be obstructed in this manner is deeply alarming.”
The NDC presidential candidate warned that incidents capable of inflaming political divisions must be rejected, particularly when the country is confronting deadly violence and grieving communities.
“At a time when our nation should be united in grief and resolute in preventing further bloodshed, we must reject any action capable of deepening our divisions,” he said.
Obi said Nigerians should not have to live in fear while travelling, farming or sleeping in their homes, arguing that the protection of lives must take precedence over political considerations.
“The people of Benue—and all Nigerians—deserve to sleep without fear. They deserve to travel without fear. They deserve to cultivate their land without fear,” he said.
“Above all, they deserve a country where the state places the protection of human life far above political expediency.”
Although his convoy could not gain access to Yelwata, Obi said his solidarity with the victims and their families remained unwavering.
He vowed to continue pushing for a country where the government fulfils what he described as its primary responsibility—the protection of every Nigerian life.
“Although we were unable to reach the community today, our thoughts and prayers remain steadfastly with the victims, their families, and the entire Yelwata community,” he said.
“We shall continue to work until the primary responsibility of government—the safeguarding of every Nigerian life—is restored. Until then, we cannot truly say we have built the nation our people deserve.”
Similarly, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), condemned what it described as a “shameful attack and obstruction” of Obi, during his visit to Benue State to sympathise with victims of the Yelwata massacre.
he party alleged that suspected hired thugs, reportedly led by an aide to Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, blocked Obi’s convoy and prevented him from entering Yelwata community, where more than 270 people were reportedly killed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party said the incident was particularly disturbing because Obi’s visit was intended to mourn with bereaved families rather than engage in political activities.
According to the NDC, Obi arrived in Benue at about 9 a.m. with the intention of visiting victims and families affected by the killings but was stopped from proceeding to the community.
The NDC described the alleged obstruction as “deeply troubling and condemnable,” insisting that no Nigerian should be prevented from mourning with victims of a tragedy or showing solidarity with grieving communities.
The opposition party declared that Benue residents and Nigerians across the country deserved to live and farm without fear, while accusing government at all levels of having a fundamental responsibility to protect human life.
“The NDC believes that Benue and all Nigerians deserve to live, sleep peacefully, travel safely, and farm their lands without fear,” the party said.
“Above all, they deserve a government that prioritizes the protection of human life above every other consideration.”
The party vowed not to be intimidated by the alleged incident, saying the denial of access to Yelwata would not stop it from demanding accountability and stronger protection for Nigerians.
“We will not be deterred,” the NDC declared. “The NDC will persist until we restore the fundamental responsibility of government: the protection of every Nigerian’s life.”
The party also called on the Benue State Government and security agencies to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged attack, identify those responsible and ensure that they face justice.
It further demanded guarantees for the safety of citizens and political leaders seeking to visit communities affected by violence.
Although Obi was reportedly denied access to Yelwata, the NDC said its “hearts and prayers” remained with the victims, their families and the entire community.
The party maintained that the incident should not be allowed to deepen political divisions at a time when the focus should remain on the protection of lives and the prevention of further bloodshed.
But the Benue State Government fired back, dismissing Obi’s allegations as “unfounded” and a “desperate attempt” to drag Governor Alia and the state into what it suggested could be an internal political dispute within the NDC.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the government said it had no knowledge of the alleged incident and denied deploying thugs against Obi.
sh to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about,” the government said.
The state government further questioned whether Obi actually visited Makurdi, alleging that he had previously made what it described as untrue statements about Benue.
It insisted that Governor Alia had no reason to regard Obi as a threat and would not use thugs as instruments of governance or security.
“Even if he actually visited the state, and we realized that he is a threat to anyone, the security agencies are there to handle the issue, not thugs,” the government said.
The Alia administration also raised questions about the security arrangements surrounding Obi’s visit, arguing that a presidential candidate visiting the state would ordinarily be expected to notify relevant security authorities.
“Ordinarily, such a visit would attract the attention and necessary security coordination involving the Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies,” it said.
The government suggested that if Obi was facing disagreements or political challenges within the NDC’s Benue structure, such matters should be resolved within the party rather than attributed to the state government.
The escalating exchange has now shifted attention from the humanitarian purpose of Obi’s proposed visit to the political dispute over who was responsible for the alleged obstruction.
