The Yelewata Council of Elders has unreservedly condemned the harassment of peaceful residents and the attempt to prevent the 2027 NDC presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, from visiting the community to mourn victims of the June 13-14, 2025 armed Fulani herdsmen attacks.
According to the council, Obi had planned to visit Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State to offer consolation and support to a community still grappling with the consequences of the attack that claimed more than 270 lives. His trip was reportedly disrupted by alleged government-sponsored thugs in Makurdi. The elders further accused the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Orwough, of deploying thugs to the community in the early hours of the same day to harass and intimidate residents and block Obi’s entry.
The council stated that after the thugs caused trouble, the elders walked away to avoid a physical clash. They alleged that the chairman later verbally accosted them, claiming they were nothing before him and that even the Ter-Guma would appear immediately if summoned. When the elders expressed displeasure, a proxy allegedly offered them ₦50,000 as a bribe, which they rejected, insisting they could not be insulted and then bought.
The elders described the incident as an act of brigandage and power showmanship. They said political differences must never override humanity or turn the suffering of innocent citizens into a platform for political contestation. They emphasised that the people of Yelewata are not political pawns and will not allow their blood or suffering to be politicised.
The council also apologised to Mr. Peter Obi for the harassment, embarrassment and inconvenience caused to him and his delegation, describing Yelewata people as peaceful, accommodating and welcoming. They expressed sadness that his genuine desire to sympathise with the community was met with hostility.
Beyond the incident, the elders highlighted the continued suffering of the community more than a year after the massacre. They noted prolonged displacement, inability of many residents to access their farms, starvation and inadequate government assistance. They expressed particular concern over the failure to rebuild the Yelewata market, where many people were trapped and killed, despite numerous promises and discussions. They called on the government to give a full and transparent account of efforts to rebuild the market and how donations and support received from individuals and organisations have been utilised.
Citing Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely throughout the country, the council appealed to authorities and political actors to respect citizens’ constitutional rights and ensure that any restriction on movement is lawful, necessary and justifiable, not imposed through political intimidation.
The elders invited Mr. Peter Obi to return to Yelewata at his convenience to personally extend his sympathies and offer the support he had planned. They appealed to political leaders, government officials and their supporters to stop playing politics with the lives, blood and suffering of the people of Yelewata, insisting that the community has suffered enough.
