By SCM Correspondent l Wednesday, Sept 09, 2026
MAKURDI— Former Vice President and presidential candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, has strongly condemned the violent attack and blockade launched against His Excellency Peter Obi, who was forcibly prevented from visiting the crisis-torn Yelwata community in Benue State.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was on his way to offer his condolences and humanitarian support to families mourning victims of persistent terrorist attacks when armed thugs intercepted his convoy.
In a official press statement issued by his spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, Atiku described the disruption as “unacceptable, anti-democratic, and deeply shameful.”
”HE Atiku Abubakar strongly condemns the violent attack on Peter Obi, who was brutally prevented from reaching bereaved families of Yelwata, Benue State, to offer his condolences over the persistent terrorist attacks on them,” the statement read. “Such acts are unacceptable, anti-democratic, and deeply shameful.”
Atiku further demanded that law enforcement agencies step in immediately to forestall an unraveling of democratic norms and political freedoms.
”He calls on the authorities to investigate urgently, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure the safety and freedom of all leaders to carry out their duties without intimidation,” Okonkwo added in the statement.
The attack occurred along the Makurdi-Gboko Road, just a few kilometers after Obi’s arrival at the Makurdi Airport. Obi’s mission was centered on visiting Yelwata—a vulnerable agrarian community in Guma Local Government Area that suffered a devastating massacre in mid-2025 where over 200 residents were killed by suspected armed herdsmen and insurgents.
According to reports, as Obi’s convoy approached the area, a large group of hostile, armed youths barricaded the federal highway. Carrying clubs, sticks, and weapons, the mob threw stones at the entourage while chanting “Peter Obi, go back!” Witnesses and NDC party officials alleged that the blockade was deliberate and coordinated, allegedly involving local political elements seeking to restrict opposition leaders from identifying with affected communities.
Rather than risking an escalation or endangering the lives of his team and bystanders, Obi exercised restraint, aborted the trip, and returned to the airport to depart the state.
Growing Outrage and Counter-Claims
The incident has drawn widespread outrage from civil rights organizations, human rights defenders, and opposition figures across the nation. Critics have questioned why security agencies present at the scene failed to disperse the armed crowd and safeguard a major national political figure exercising his constitutional right to free movement.
In its defense, the Benue State Government distanced itself from the blockade, asserting that it had no hand in the disruption. State officials claimed they were not formally notified of Obi’s arrival in advance, arguing that security guarantees could not be properly structured without prior administrative notice.
However, NDC officials countered that formal notifications had been dispatched to both the State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) prior to the visit.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed that officers were deployed to manage security for Obi’s movement and stated that an active investigation is underway to determine the orchestrators behind the road blockade.
Atiku’s swift intervention highlights growing concerns among national political leaders over political intolerance, the shrinking space for democratic engagement, and the ongoing security crisis in North-Central Nigeria.
