…Says massacre a failure of leadership and a stain on national conscience
…Warns against normalisation of mass killings
…Demands decisive action beyond symbolic gestures
Former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, has lashed out at the Federal Government, accusing it of gross leadership failure following the mass killing of over 200 persons in Benue State.
In a statement on Sunday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Mr Obi described the bloodshed as a “stain on our collective conscience,” insisting that the scale of violence in Benue could no longer be described as localised unrest but a full-blown national emergency.
According to him, “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. Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin.”
He warned that Nigerians were now witnessing the normalisation of mass murder, accusing leaders at all levels of abandoning their core constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Obi did not hold back in his assessment of the situation, stating plainly that the Federal Government had failed in its duty.
He emphasised that repeated expressions of concern without concrete follow-up actions would only deepen public distrust and worsen the suffering of victims.
He added: “This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience… We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable.”
He demanded that the Federal Government immediately declare a national emergency in Benue and prioritise the deployment of meaningful strategies to secure the state.
“The time has come to move beyond symbolic gestures to decisive deployment. Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements,”he reiterated.
Speaking directly to the victims and families in Benue, Obi extended his heartfelt sympathy and vowed solidarity with the affected communities.
“Your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice,” he said.
He further noted that the current reality of life in Benue, where communities are frequently raided and innocent people murdered, was not in line with the vision of a just and peaceful 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,” he added.
