Obi Leaves Benue After Blockade, Lands In Jos To Visit Mangu Attack Victims

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has left Benue State for Plateau State after his planned visit to communities affected by recent killings in the state was disrupted by a road blockade.

Obi arrived in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday and was received at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, by Plateau State executives and chieftains of the NDC.

His arrival came hours after his convoy was stopped on the Gboko Road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport in Benue State while he was attempting to proceed to Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area to commiserate with victims of recent attacks.

Reports from the scene said protesters barricaded the road, with some chanting that they did not want Obi in the area. Obi subsequently accused an aide to the Benue State governor of mobilising youths to obstruct his visit. The Benue State Government, however, said it was unaware of his visit and distanced itself from the incident.

Obi said his visit to Benue was not for political campaigning but to sympathise with families affected by the killings and show solidarity with communities facing insecurity.

After the disruption, Obi proceeded to Plateau State, where he is expected to visit communities and families affected by recent attacks in Mangu Local Government Area.

His visit to Mangu follows reports of deadly attacks in the area. In one recent incident, at least one person was killed and another injured after suspected armed militia attacked residents returning from mining activities between Gaude and Mangu Halle, while troops launched a search operation for the attackers.

Obi had earlier condemned the spate of attacks across Benue, Plateau and Niger states, citing the reported killing of at least 23 people in the Jwak Maitumbi area of Mangu, with residents putting the death toll higher and reporting the destruction of more than 45 houses.

In Jos, the NDC presidential candidate is expected to proceed to Mangu to meet victims, families, community leaders and other stakeholders.

He is also expected to hear firsthand accounts of the attacks, sympathise with families who lost loved ones and assess the impact of the violence on affected communities.

The visit comes against the backdrop of continuing security concerns in parts of Plateau State, with residents and community leaders calling for stronger measures to protect lives and property.

Obi's movement from Benue to Plateau places his planned solidarity visits to two violence-affected North-Central states within the same day, following the disruption of his intended visit to Yelwata earlier on Tuesday.