Abuja, Nigeria – June 5, 2025
Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing the tragedy as “a national emergency” and a profound failure of leadership.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, Obi condemned the brutal murder of over 200 individuals, including women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, during what he described as a “single onslaught” on communities in the state.
“My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue… This tragedy has become too common in our national life,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor lamented the widespread destruction of homes, the displacement of families, and the collapse of entire communities, describing the attacks as more than just acts of violence.
“This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience,” he said, adding that every Nigerian life lost is precious and irreplaceable.
Call for Urgent Government Action
Obi criticised what he sees as a growing normalisation of mass killings in the country and urged federal, state, and local authorities to fulfil their primary constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.
“When government repeatedly fails in this duty, we must ask: what kind of nation are we bequeathing to our children?”
He called for urgent, deliberate, and comprehensive action to protect communities in Benue and other crisis-prone regions, warning that symbolic gestures or political statements are no longer sufficient.
“Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements,” he urged the government. “It’s time to prove commitment to protecting citizens.”
Solidarity with Victims
Offering condolences and solidarity to the people of Benue, Obi said:
“To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice.”
He reiterated that a safe and secure Benue is not an unrealistic demand but a moral and national obligation, insisting that Nigeria must not accept a future defined by bloodshed and impunity.
“This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to,” he concluded. “We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity.”
