Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, has described the recent deaths in Benue and Plateau states as sad and troubling.
Obi, 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 the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State were unacceptable and called for a proactive, intelligence-driven security response.
The assaults, which took place over the weekend, also claimed two lives in Akpachi village in the Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area on Friday, increasing the total number of deaths from Benue attacks to at least 18.
In Plateau State, the deceased, identified by community sources as members of the same family, were slain on Saturday night when gunmen attacked the Kum and Wereng-Camp settlements in Riyom.
Speaking on 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 stated that any government’s basic obligation was the protection of lives and property, emphasizing that every Nigerian life was precious.
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, calling on 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 sent his condolences to the slain families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states, praying for comfort for those in mourning 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.”
