The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has described the renewed killings in Benue and Plateau states as painful and deeply disturbing.
The former governor of Anambra State in a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, said the killing of at least 16 people in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State and the murder of nine members of a family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State was unacceptable and called for a proactive, intelligence-driven security response
The attacks, which occurred at the weekend, also claimed two lives in Akpachi village in the Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area on Friday, bringing the death toll from the Benue attacks to at least 18.
In Plateau State, the victims, identified by community sources as members of one family, were killed on Saturday night when gunmen struck Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom.
Reacting to the killings, Obi said the reported murders were a painful reminder that “the relentless cycle of bloodshed in parts of our country has persisted for far too long.”
He said, “For years, families in Benue, Plateau and other communities across Nigeria have lived under the constant shadow of fear, violence and displacement. Mothers have buried their children, children have become orphans overnight, farmers have abandoned their lands, and entire communities have been left devastated. We cannot continue to accept this tragic cycle as though it were normal. It is not.”
The NDC presidential candidate insisted that the primary responsibility of any government remained the protection of lives and property, stressing that every Nigerian life was sacred.
He said, “The primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. Every Nigerian life is sacred, and every life lost is one too many. These are not mere statistics; they are fathers, mothers, children, breadwinners and future leaders whose dreams have been violently cut short.”
Obi called for an end to routine condemnations after every attack, urging the government to build a security architecture that is proactive rather than reactive.
“The time has come to move beyond routine condemnations after every attack. Nigerians deserve a security architecture that is proactive rather than reactive, driven by intelligence, rapid response and accountability. Those responsible for these atrocities must be identified, arrested and prosecuted. The culture of impunity must end,” he said.
Obi extended his condolences to the bereaved families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states, praying for comfort for those who mourn and healing for the injured.
He added, “This is not about politics; it is about humanity. We must summon the collective will to secure our nation and restore hope to our people. No country can develop when its citizens live in fear, and no society can prosper when innocent blood continues to flow unchecked.”
The PUNCH