Nigeria's opposition figure Peter Obi was on Tuesday blocked from visiting a village in a volatile region where dozens were killed last year, he said as the election campaign heats up.
Africa's most populous country goes to polls on January 16 and Obi is one of the opposition candidates squaring up against incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
Police in the central state of Benue confirmed to local media that Obi's convoy was "blocked by some youths" and said they had launched an investigation.
More than 150 people were killed last year in Benue in the village of Yelwata in a region known as the Middle Belt.
Obi said in a post on X that his "convoy was prevented from proceeding to the community by thugs chanting, 'Peter Obi, go back'".
"It was deeply distressing to witness such hostility," he wrote saying his visit was to show support and "to listen to families who have lost loved ones, and to offer comfort".
Obi's office said in a statement that the group that obstructed him was "armed with dangerous weapons".
"This is a campaign period. As presidential candidate I'm free to move around," Obi said. "This rascality cannot be allowed," he added.
