Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has visited Benue State, where he paid tribute to victims of the June 2025 Yelewata massacre and announced humanitarian support for the affected community.

Obi arrived in the state on Wednesday morning alongside his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and proceeded with his delegation to Gboko, where he paid homage to the Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Professor James Ayatse.

The delegation later returned to Makurdi before proceeding to Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area, where Obi laid a wreath at the community cenotaph erected in memory of those killed in the attack.

The memorial, unveiled in June 2026 during the first anniversary of the massacre, bears the names of 271 victims, including men, women and children killed during the June 13–14, 2025 assault.

Accompanied by party officials, Obi also walked through the farming community and met relatives of some of those killed in the attack.

During the visit, the former Anambra governor pledged ₦10 million towards education in Yelewata and announced plans for borehole projects to improve access to clean water. He also promised medical support for residents affected by the aftermath of the massacre.

The humanitarian commitments were aimed at addressing some of the immediate challenges facing the community, where residents continue to grapple with the loss of loved ones, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods.

Obi Pledges to End Killings and Restore Security

After the wreath-laying ceremony and other engagements in Yelewata, Obi travelled to Makurdi, where he addressed supporters and other stakeholders at a town hall meeting held at the Mission House Multipurpose Hall near Wurukum.

Addressing residents, traditional leaders, students and civil society representatives, Obi said recurring killings across the Middle Belt must come to an end, pledging that a government under his leadership would hold armed attackers accountable and pursue criminal gangs into their hideouts.

He argued that governance loses its purpose when citizens cannot sleep safely in their homes or cultivate their ancestral lands.

Obi also pledged comprehensive security sector reforms, improved welfare for frontline security personnel and proactive, intelligence-led operations to protect vulnerable communities and farming corridors.

Previous Disruption and Political Tensions

Obi's latest visit came against the backdrop of an earlier attempt to reach Yelewata on September 8, 2026, which was disrupted after his convoy encountered a roadblock mounted by suspected political thugs along the Makurdi-Gboko highway.

The incident prompted police intervention and the arrest of 46 suspects in connection with the disruption.

Ahead of Wednesday's engagement, NDC governorship candidate Professor Terhemba Shija had raised concerns over alleged attempts to frustrate Obi's visit to Yelewata.

The Benue State Government dismissed the allegations, with Commissioner for Information and Orientation Solomon Iorpev insisting that the authorities had no intention of interfering with any lawful engagement by the opposition politician.

The September disruption had raised concerns about the security of political engagements in the state, making the successful completion of Obi's latest visit particularly significant.

Obi Links Rural Security to Food Production

At the Makurdi town hall, Obi also linked insecurity in Benue to Nigeria's food production challenges, arguing that attacks on farming communities and the displacement of residents had undermined agricultural activities.

Benue, one of Nigeria's major agricultural-producing states, has experienced significant disruption to farming activities as insecurity continues to affect rural settlements and force residents away from their farmlands.

Obi criticised the management of national resources, arguing that increased government revenues had not translated into improved living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

He pledged targeted agricultural investments, youth employment programmes and improved transport infrastructure to support farmers, strengthen food production and enable them to move their produce safely to markets.

The town hall meeting concluded Obi's engagements in Benue State, with party officials describing the visit as an opportunity to connect with residents and restate the NDC's commitment to addressing insecurity, economic hardship and other challenges facing the country.