Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recent wave of violence across parts of northern Nigeria, describing the situation as a national tragedy and a glaring failure of leadership.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the former governor of Anambra State voiced heartbreak over the relentless killings in Taraba, Benue, and Kogi states, urging swift and decisive action to halt the carnage.
Obi said, “The news of the continued senseless killings that have gripped parts of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi States in recent times is heartbreaking. Nigeria cannot continue like this.
This is not the Nigeria we deserve. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity. A new Nigeria is possible. What we are witnessing is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership and a gaping wound in the soul of our nation.”
He expressed solidarity with the victims, stating, “I mourn with the good people of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi. I share their grief, and I feel their pain. But I also raise my voice because silence in the face of such horror is complicity. We need urgent action, not rhetoric. We need justice, not excuses.”
Obi condemned the widespread destruction of lives and communities, highlighting the repeated targeting of vulnerable populations, including children, women, and religious figures. He described the violence as part of a persistent crisis that appears far from being resolved.
“The bloodshed is staggering, yet the response remains weak and muted. As homes are destroyed and communities torn apart, we risk normalising the unacceptable: mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of law and order,” he said.
“These are not mere statistics; they are our fellow Nigerians. Each life lost is a tragedy that must not be ignored.”
Reiterating the government’s fundamental duty to protect lives and property, Obi warned that continued inaction could jeopardize the country’s future.
“When this duty is repeatedly ignored, when innocent citizens are butchered and nothing changes, we must ask ourselves: What kind of nation are we building? What future are we promising our children?”
In recent weeks, violent incidents in the affected states have resulted in dozens of fatalities and large-scale displacements, fueling public outcry for meaningful intervention.
In Benue State, at least 42 individuals were killed over the weekend following coordinated attacks on Tyolaha, Tse-Ubiam, Ahume, and Aondona villages. Among the victims were women, children, and a Catholic priest who sustained critical injuries. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings as a “heinous act” and highlighted the fragile nature of the state’s security.
In Kogi State, the Okoloke community in Yagba West Local Government Area was rocked by violence after gunmen suspected to be bandits killed three people and abducted a traditional ruler. The attackers were said to have demanded a ransom of N12 million for the monarch’s release.
Meanwhile, in Taraba State, deadly clashes between Bandawa and Fulani groups in Munga Lelau, located in Karim Lamido Local Government Area, led to at least 40 deaths. Eyewitnesses recounted how assailants on motorcycles launched attacks, opened fire, and set homes ablaze. Victims were buried in mass graves, and residents voiced suspicions about alleged involvement or negligence by security forces.
The escalating violence has underscored the urgent need for concrete government action to restore peace and ensure the safety of all Nigerians.
