Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has condemned the fresh killings in Benue and Plateau states. He described the attacks as painful, disturbing and unacceptable.
According to The Punch, Obi reacted in a statement posted on his X handle on Monday. This came after gunmen attacked communities in both states at the weekend.
He said Nigeria could no longer treat repeated attacks on communities as normal. In addition, he said the killings showed the urgent need for a proactive and intelligence-driven security system.
Fresh attacks hit Benue, Plateau
At least 16 people died in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State. Meanwhile, two others also lost their lives in Akpachi village in the Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area on Friday.
In Plateau State, gunmen killed nine members of one family, including a two-month-old baby. This happened when they attacked Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night.
Reacting to the attacks, Obi said the killings showed that many families in Benue, Plateau and other parts of Nigeria had lived too long under fear. They have also suffered prolonged violence and displacement.
“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,” he said.
Obi demands proactive security
Obi said every Nigerian life matters. He insisted that the government must place the protection of lives and property at the centre of governance.
“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.
However, the former Anambra State governor urged the government to move beyond routine condemnations after every attack.
He said Nigerians need a security structure that can prevent attacks, respond quickly and hold offenders accountable.
“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 also extended his condolences to the bereaved families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states. In addition, he prayed for comfort for those mourning and healing for the 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,” he said.
The Benue Plateau killings have renewed public concern over insecurity in the North-Central region. In this region, repeated attacks continue to displace families, disrupt farming and keep many communities in fear.
