Admin I Tuesday, Sept. 08, 2026
MAKURDI — Tension flared in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Tuesday following an attack on the convoy of Peter Obi by suspected politically sponsored thugs.
The incident occurred along the critical Airport-Boko Road, near the Nigerian Air Force Base, shortly after Obi’s arrival in the North-Central state.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage shared by Obi’s official documentarian, Esther Umoh, show heavily armed hoodlums setting up blockades along the route. The attackers aggressively chanted that Obi “must not step into Benue State” before harassing the entourage.
The violent confrontation disrupted vehicular movement and forced the driver of the lead vehicle to halt as security personnel scrambled to secure the area.
In the wake of the hostility, stakeholders and political advocacy groups have called on both the Federal Government and the Benue State Government to intervene immediately.
Speaking on the constitutional breach, observers emphasized that democratic principles require state actors to protect political actors regardless of affiliation.
”Freedom of movement and political association are fundamental constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen,” a representative of Obi’s legal team said in a swift reaction. “We call on the Federal and State governments to act decisively in the interest of democracy, law, and order. State institutions must not be used or allowed to tolerate politically motivated violence.”
Escalating Political Friction in Benue
The obstruction highlights intensifying political friction in Benue State as political figures lay early groundwork for future electoral cycles.
Obi had previously visited Benue State to sympathise with victims of terror attacks in local communities like Otukpo-Nobi and Efeyi-Ugboju. During those visits, Obi publicly criticized government shortcomings in closing “ungoverned spaces” and urged federal authorities to intensify security operations in the North-Central region.
Local analysts observe that Obi’s high-profile solidarity visits to displaced persons (IDP) camps and affected farming communities have sparked political friction with state apparatuses, leading to warnings against unapproved political gatherings.
As of press time, neither the Benue State Police Command nor the Benue State Government had issued an official statement regarding the identities or arrests of the perpetrators.
