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The Benue Govt has challenged Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi to identify the government aide he alleged mobilised youths to block his convoy from accessing Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area.
The challenge was issued by Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, during an appearance on The Morning Show, an Arise TV programme, on Wednesday.
Kula said the state government was ready to support an investigation into the incident and insisted that anyone found responsible for orchestrating the alleged obstruction should face the law.
Benue Govt Demands Evidence From Obi
The governor’s spokesman urged Obi and the NDC to not only name the alleged aide but also provide evidence linking the individual to the incident.
He said the police had the responsibility to investigate the allegation and determine those behind the reported blockade.
“The incident was completely unknown to the government until we started seeing pictures of what was happening,” Kula said.
He added that he had challenged those making the allegation to identify the aide and provide evidence so that appropriate action could be taken if the person was found culpable.
“I challenged them that they should name that aide. They mentioned a particular aide, and we said they should go ahead and mention him. If there’s any evidence, the police commissioner should ensure that the person who directed this is arrested and brought to book,” he said.
Kula maintained that Governor Alia had no reason to deploy youths to frustrate Obi’s movement, stressing that the governor did not support political thuggery.
According to him, if Obi’s visit created any security or political concern, the appropriate response would have been to involve recognised security agencies rather than mobilise youths.
“Governor Alia does not promote thuggery in Benue State. If Obi is a threat to him, or maybe he felt that Obi’s coming would cause a problem for him, the right thing to do is to get legitimate security operatives to do the needful and not to gather youths or send them to go and block him,” he stated.
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Dispute Over Obi’s Visit to Yelewata
The controversy followed Obi’s attempt to visit Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area that suffered a deadly attack in June 2025 in which more than 200 people were reportedly killed.
Obi accused the state government of frustrating his movement after youths reportedly blocked his convoy.
The Benue Govt, however, has repeatedly denied having prior knowledge of Obi’s visit.
Kula had earlier said neither Governor Alia nor the state’s security agencies were informed ahead of Obi’s movement to Yelewata.
He argued that as a presidential candidate, Obi should have had adequate security arrangements for his movement, particularly when visiting a community considered sensitive because of its history of violence.
The governor’s spokesman said the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among other security agencies, ought to have been notified before the visit.
“If you are visiting a state, the security apparatus of the state is supposed to know. The Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS, Civil Defence and others are supposed to be aware so that they can provide adequate security for you,” he said.
Kula also questioned how youths could have successfully stopped a presidential candidate if adequate security arrangements had been made for the visit.
He further said Governor Alia had not received any security briefing concerning Obi’s movement to Yelewata.
Benue Govt Says Insecurity Remains a Concern
Speaking on the broader security situation in Benue, Kula acknowledged that insecurity remained a serious concern despite describing the situation in the state as having improved to what he called “relative peace.”
He stressed that the fact that other states were facing similar security challenges was not a reason for the Benue government to become complacent.
“What is happening in Benue State in respect to insecurity is happening to other states. It’s not peculiar to Benue,” he said.
“But there is no excuse saying that because it’s happening to other states, we should be comfortable. We are not comfortable.”
Kula said Governor Alia remained concerned about insecurity and was committed to reducing attacks across Benue State to the barest minimum.
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