Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi has condemned the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing them as a national emergency and a shameful failure of leadership.
The former Anambra governor expressed deep sorrow over the violence, which reportedly claimed over 200 lives, including women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons.
“My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, all senselessly slain,” Obi wrote on his official X handle on Sunday, June 15.
He lamented the scale of the violence, saying, “Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin.”
Obi stressed that the violence should not be normalised, calling the killings not just a tragedy but a national failure.
“This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience. Every life lost is a Nigerian life, each one precious, each one irreplaceable,” he stated.
He questioned the commitment of government at all levels to protecting citizens, warning that repeated failures risk destroying the nation’s future.
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“We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable. The primary duty of any government, federal, state, or local is to protect lives and property. When it repeatedly fails, we must ask: What kind of nation are we bequeathing to our children?” he asked.
To the affected communities, Obi offered a message of solidarity and empathy.
“To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice. The survival of our people must not be negotiable; it must be urgent, deliberate, and comprehensive action,” he said.
He urged authorities to go beyond condolences and take concrete steps to restore security.
“To all relevant authorities, I say that the time has come to move beyond symbolic gestures to decisive deployment. Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements.
“The time has come for the government to prove their commitment to protecting citizens, which is the primary duty of any government,” Obi said.
He concluded by calling for the restoration of peace and security in Benue and across Nigeria.
“A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask, it is our moral duty, our national duty. This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity. A safe Nigeria is POssible,” he added.