Benue Youths Block Peter Obi’s Visit to Yelewata Village

Peter Obi arrived in Makurdi intending to visit Yelewata and make personal donations to victims of the June 13, 2025, armed herdsmen attack. He never reached the village. Youths blocked the Makurdi-Gboko Road less than two kilometres from the airport, chanting, “Obi go back, Obi go back.”

“

It is ridiculous and very, very worrisome, our experience this morning.

Some of the youths reportedly carried sticks and threw stones as security personnel watched. Obi and his team eventually returned to the airport, where he boarded his aircraft and left Benue.

Before departing, Obi called the incident “ridiculous and very, very worrisome.” He said he had come to condole with families affected by the killings, pay respect to the dead and support the community. He said more than 270 people had been killed in Yelewata and that he had wanted to visit as the 2027 campaign began.

“

This rascality cannot be allowed.

Obi said he chose to turn back because he did not want a confrontation between his supporters and the youths to endanger other people. He appealed to the inspector-general of police, the director-general of the Department of State Services and other security authorities to intervene and require state governors to help keep campaigns peaceful. “This rascality cannot be allowed,” he said. “It is unacceptable.” The Benue government said it had not been aware of his visit.

“

It is unacceptable.