Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for an end to the ongoing violence in Benue, Kogi, and Taraba States, attributing the persistent bloodshed to the government’s failure to address insecurity.
In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Obi condemned the killings and urged leaders to speak up and take urgent action.
He wrote:
“The relentless and senseless killings in parts of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi are deeply distressing.
This is more than just violence—it is a clear failure of leadership and a deep scar on the conscience of our nation.”
Obi lamented the devastating toll the violence has taken in recent months, with entire families wiped out, including children, women, and religious leaders. He stressed that the sheer scale of bloodshed and the lack of a strong government response risk normalizing these atrocities.
He emphasized that every life lost matters and should not be reduced to mere statistics.
“The destruction of homes, displacement of communities, and erosion of law and order cannot be tolerated. These are not just numbers—these are our fellow Nigerians.”
Reaffirming his stance, Obi stated:
“The most fundamental duty of any government is the protection of life and property.
When this duty is neglected, and innocent citizens continue to be slaughtered with impunity, we must question what kind of future we’re shaping for the next generation.”
He extended his condolences to the affected communities and called for urgent intervention, accountability, and justice.
“Silence in the face of this horror is complicity. We need more than words—we need decisive action. Leaders must prioritize and protect human life at all costs.”
Obi concluded by insisting that Nigeria cannot continue on this destructive path:
“This is not the Nigeria we deserve. The killings must stop. We must reclaim our sense of humanity. A new Nigeria is POssible.”