The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the latest wave of killings in Benue and Plateau states, describing the attacks as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, the former Anambra State governor lamented the killing of at least 16 people in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State, as well as the murder of nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Obi called for a more proactive, intelligence-driven security strategy to curb the persistent violence, insisting that the government must move beyond reacting to attacks after they occur.
The weekend attacks also claimed two additional lives in Akpachi village, Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area, bringing the death toll in Benue to at least 18.
In Plateau State, community sources said the victims, all members of one family, were killed on Saturday night when gunmen invaded the Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area.
Reacting to the incidents, Obi said the latest killings underscored the country’s prolonged security crisis.
“The reported murders are 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 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 urged authorities to replace routine condemnations with decisive action by strengthening the country’s security framework.
“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 added.
He also sympathised with the bereaved families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states, praying for comfort for those grieving and speedy recovery for those injured.
“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,” Obi said.
