Peter Obi Condemns Fresh Benue, Plateau Killings, Demands Proactive Security

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has condemned the renewed killings in Benue and Plateau states, describing the attacks as painful and deeply disturbing while calling for a proactive, intelligence-driven security response.

In a statement posted on X on Monday, the former Anambra State governor said the killing of at least 18 people in Benue State and nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State was unacceptable.

The attacks in Benue claimed the lives of at least 16 people in the Otukpo-Nobi community over the weekend, while two others were killed on Friday in Akpachi village, Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area.

In Plateau State, suspected gunmen attacked Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night, killing nine members of the same family, according to community sources.

Reacting to the killings, Obi described the attacks as 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.”

Obi reiterated that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property, stressing that every Nigerian life is sacred.

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.”

The former presidential candidate called for an end to routine condemnations after attacks, urging the government to establish a proactive security architecture driven by intelligence, rapid response and accountability.

“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 extended his condolences to the bereaved families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states, praying for comfort for those mourning and a speedy recovery for those 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.”

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