The Benue State Government has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to identify the government aide they accused of stopping Obi’s convoy from accessing Yelewata community in the state.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, also called on Obi and the party to produce evidence to substantiate their allegation, stressing that the government was willing to support a police investigation into the incident.

Kula made the remarks on Wednesday while appearing on The Morning Show, an Arise TV programme.

According to him, the state government was not aware of the incident when it occurred and only became aware after photographs showing the alleged obstruction emerged online.

He said: “The incident was completely unknown to the government until we started seeing pictures of what was happening.

But before you say, Jack, they addressed the press and accused the governor of blocking his way. Now, the governor has become an accused person.

“I challenged them that they should name that aide. They mentioned a particular aide, and we said they should go ahead and mention him.

If there’s any evidence, the police commissioner should ensure that the person who directed this is arrested and brought to book. These are easy assignments. They have the ability to do it.”

Kula maintained that if the alleged aide was identified and evidence established his involvement, the appropriate authorities should take action against him.

Addressing concerns over insecurity across Benue, the governor’s spokesman acknowledged the challenges confronting residents but said the situation was not exclusive to the state.

He said: “What is happening in Benue State is somehow difficult to understand. What is happening to Benue State in respect to insecurity is happening to other states.

It’s not peculiar to Benue. But there is no excuse saying that because it’s happening to other states, we should be comfortable.

We are not comfortable. The reverend father has said to you earlier that he is not comfortable and he is not sleeping in ensuring that the insecurity is reduced to the barest minimum.

We now have what we can describe as relative peace in the state.”

He added that the state government remained concerned about insecurity and was committed to reducing the threat to the lowest possible level.

A global non-denominational organization, Open Doors International, has alleged that Christians in Plateau State are being targeted for total elimination by Islamist extremists and terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province, ISWAP.

The group which made the allegations in its ‘Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List’, published on Tuesday, said the claims are based on recent attacks in parts of the state, where more than 30 Christians were slaughtered by gunmen suspected to be Fulani jihadists. It also noted that communities, churches, houses, farms and food barns were burnt down and destroyed.

According to the report, the incidents cannot be treated as isolated events or reduced to competing narratives but should be seen as deliberate efforts by the jihadists to wipe out Christians and Christianity in the state.

The report noted that while Nigerian leaders are busy denying the fact that Christians are being targeted in Plateau State and other parts of the Middle Belt, attacks by armed herdsmen on Christian communities are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians’ lands and impose Islam, as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

“In Nigeria’s North-Central zone, especially in Plateau State, Islamic extremist Fulani militias attack farming communities, killing thousands of Christians in deliberate efforts to wipe out Christians,” parts of the report said.

“Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the splinter group Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), among others, have also been active in the attacks and killing of innocent Christians in Plateau.

“Christians and their communities continue to be the targets of raids, sexual violence, and roadblock killings. Abductions for ransom have increased considerably in recent years.”

The Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List added that Fulani militias adhere to a radical Islamist ideology of expansionism, while also adopting a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP, and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and symbols of Christian identity.

“We believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Plateau State are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians’ lands and impose Islam, as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds,” the report stated.