The Benue State Police Command has arrested 46 people allegedly linked to the obstruction of the convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi during his visit to the state.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, when Obi was travelling to Yelwata in the Guma Local Government Area to visit communities affected by the deadly attacks that occurred in the area.
The former Anambra State governor’s convoy was reportedly stopped along the Gboko Road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport. Witnesses said some youths blocked the road and chanted slogans opposing Obi’s presence in the area.
Following the incident, the Benue State Police Command commenced an investigation and subsequently arrested 46 suspects believed to have been involved in the obstruction.
The arrests came amid growing reactions to the incident, with political figures and groups condemning the blockade and calling for an investigation into what happened.
Obi had said he was travelling to Yelwata primarily to sympathise with families affected by the killings and to draw attention to the plight of communities affected by insecurity.
The Benue State Government, however, denied involvement in the incident, saying it was not formally notified of Obi’s visit and that the situation was connected to security and protocol concerns.
The police had earlier confirmed that they were aware of the incident and deployed personnel to the area. The command said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the obstruction and determine the roles played by those arrested.
The development has further intensified political debate in Benue ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several political actors describing the incident as troubling and urging authorities to ensure that political differences do not result in confrontations or restrictions on citizens’ movements.
The police are expected to continue investigating the matter while determining the appropriate legal action against those found to have committed offences in connection with the incident.
