Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the latest wave of deadly attacks in Benue and Plateau states, describing the continued bloodshed as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
In a post shared on X on Monday, the former Anambra State governor said the recurring violence across the two states had become deeply alarming and required urgent, focused intervention from the authorities.
According to Obi, “The tragic news of yet another round of killings in Benue and Plateau States is both painful and deeply disturbing.
“The reported murder of at least sixteen innocent Nigerians in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State, alongside the horrific killing of nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, once again reminds us that the relentless cycle of bloodshed in parts of our country has persisted for far too long.
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“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 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,” he said.
Obi stressed that the country must move beyond issuing statements of sympathy after each attack and instead adopt a more effective security strategy capable of preventing violence before it occurs.
He said, “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.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and to the governments and people of Benue and Plateau States.
“I pray that God grants comfort to all who mourn, healing to the injured, and strength to every community struggling to rebuild after these repeated tragedies.
“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,” he said.
