Over 10 Youths Hospitalised After Peter Obi Convoy Attack in Benue
More than 10 youths have reportedly been hospitalised after a confrontation involving the convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Benue State.
The injured persons were taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi for medical attention following the incident on Tuesday.
Obi’s convoy was stopped along the Gboko-Makurdi Expressway while he was travelling towards Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
The former Anambra State governor was heading to the community to meet families affected by the deadly attack that occurred there in June 2025.
An official of BSUTH, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that more than 10 wounded persons were brought to the hospital.
The official, however, said the hospital could not establish whether the patients were directly involved in the incident involving Obi’s convoy.
“Over 10 wounded victims were brought in here yesterday for urgent medical attention. They are being treated. I don’t know where they came from. We don’t know whether they were involved in Peter Obi’s incident yesterday or not.
“What we know is that they are accident victims and they are being treated. They are responding to treatment and none of them died,” the official said.
The official added that the injured persons were responding to treatment.
As of Wednesday, there was no confirmation from the hospital management linking the patients to the reported attack on Obi’s convoy.
Efforts to get further clarification from the Chief Medical Director of BSUTH, Dr Stephen Hwande, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
However, the NDC in Benue gave a different account of the situation.
The party claimed that one of the youths allegedly involved in the confrontation died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
The NDC Benue State publicity secretary, Agile-Bem Jabez Ordedoo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
“We regret to announce to you that one amongst the young men sponsored to attack the Presidential and Governorship candidates of NDC has passed on this morning at teaching hospital, Makurdi,” Ordedoo said.
The party also claimed that other injured youths remained at the emergency ward of the hospital.
The death claim could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
Obi had arrived in Makurdi on Tuesday morning before proceeding towards Yelwata.
His visit was intended to allow him to sympathise with families of victims of the June 2025 attack and identify with residents affected by insecurity in the area.
The convoy was reportedly stopped by youths around Gyado Villa along the Gboko Road.
Videos and reports from the scene showed youths blocking the road and chanting against Obi’s movement.
The situation reportedly lasted for some time before Obi eventually abandoned the journey.
The NDC subsequently accused persons linked to the Benue State Government of mobilising the youths.
Obi himself alleged that a Special Assistant to Governor Hyacinth Alia was behind the mobilisation.
He said he had travelled to the state for a humanitarian purpose and did not expect his movement to be disrupted.
The allegation has, however, been rejected by the Benue State Government.
The government said it had no involvement in the incident and denied directing youths to stop Obi.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said the government was not aware of Obi’s visit to the state.
The Benue State Government also maintained that it does not patronise thuggery and questioned how youths could have acted on behalf of the government.
The police have also confirmed that they were aware of Obi’s movement.
The Benue State Police Command said officers were deployed to provide security for the presidential candidate during the visit.
The command, however, said the reason the youths blocked Obi’s convoy was not immediately known.
Police authorities said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Cletus Nwadiogbu, also said he had directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to personally supervise the security arrangement for Obi.
