The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the latest wave of violent attacks in Benue and Plateau states, describing the persistent killings as deeply heartbreaking and entirely unacceptable. In a detailed statement shared on his official X account, the former Anambra State governor lamented the tragic loss of innocent lives, insisting that the federal government must urgently overhaul its approach to national security.
The weekend attacks resulted in a significant death toll across the two north-central states. In Benue State, at least 16 people were killed during an incursion into the Otukpo-Nobi community, while two additional lives were taken in Akpachi village within the Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area, bringing the state's total toll to at least 18. Meanwhile, a separate horrific incident occurred in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, where gunmen invaded the Kum and Wereng-Camp communities on Saturday night, murdering nine members of a single family, including a two-month-old baby.
Reacting to the dual tragedies, Obi emphasized that these recurrent massacres serve as a painful reminder of Nigeria's prolonged and unaddressed security crisis. He noted that for years, families across Benue, Plateau, and numerous other communities have been forced to live under a constant shadow of fear, violence, and permanent displacement. He decried the reality where mothers bury their children, entire communities are left devastated, and farmers are forced to abandon their lands, warning that society must never accept this tragic cycle of bloodshed as a normal way of life.
The opposition leader reminded the current administration that the primary and constitutional responsibility of any government is the absolute protection of human lives and property. He stressed that the victims should never be reduced to mere statistics, as they were real fathers, mothers, breadwinners, and future leaders whose lives and dreams were violently cut short by criminal elements.
Obi urged the relevant security agencies and federal authorities to replace routine post-attack condemnations with decisive, measurable action. He called for an immediate transition toward a security architecture that is genuinely proactive rather than reactive, noting that the national defense system must be heavily driven by intelligence, rapid response capabilities, and institutional accountability. He demanded that those responsible for the atrocities be swiftly identified, arrested, and prosecuted to finally end the deep-seated culture of impunity in the country.
Concluding his message, the politician expressed his profound sympathies to the bereaved families, as well as the governments and people of Benue and Plateau states. He prayed for comfort for the grieving families and a speedy recovery for the injured survivors, maintaining that the issue transcends partisan politics and touches on fundamental humanity. He called for a collective national will to secure the country, noting that no society can truly prosper or develop when innocent blood continues to flow unchecked.
