There was tension in Benue State on Tuesday after the convoy of presidential aspirant Peter Obi was reportedly attacked by suspected political thugs.
The incident happened along the Boko Road near the Nigerian Air Force Base shortly after Obi and his entourage arrived in the state.
Videos shared by Obi’s media aide and official photographer, Esther Umoh, showed a group of men blocking the road as the convoy approached. Some of the men were seen carrying sticks and other objects, while others reportedly chased the vehicles as they attempted to leave the area.
Umoh alleged that the men had been sponsored to prevent Obi from gaining access to the area.
Obi later spoke about the incident, saying he was in Benue to sympathise with communities affected by recent killings and not to campaign.
“I am in Benue today not for campaigns. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives, to condole and show solidarity with them,” Obi said.
He expressed concern over what he described as the deterioration of political engagement in Nigeria and called for politics based on unity and peaceful engagement.
However, the Benue State Government denied involvement in the incident.
Tersoo Kula, spokesperson to Governor Hyacinth Alia, said the government was not aware of Obi’s visit and rejected claims that the administration would use thugs to stop him.
The identities of those involved and the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.
