The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the escalating violence in parts of northern Nigeria, calling the widespread killings a national tragedy and a “failure of leadership” unworthy of Nigerians.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the former Anambra State governor expressed deep sorrow over the unrelenting bloodshed in Taraba, Benue, and Kogi states, urging immediate action to stop the violence.
Obi stated, “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.
“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.”
He lamented the widespread destruction of lives and communities, including the killings of women, children, and religious leaders. Obi described the situation as a deepening crisis with no signs of slowing down.
“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.”
Obi emphasized that safeguarding lives and property is a government’s most fundamental duty and warned that ongoing inaction raises serious concerns about Nigeria’s trajectory.
“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?”
Incessant Killings Across the Region
The past few weeks have seen a spike in violence across the three affected states, resulting in dozens of deaths, widespread displacement, and mounting calls for intervention.
In Benue State, coordinated attacks over the weekend on Tyolaha, Tse-Ubiam, Ahume, and Aondona villages left at least 42 people dead. The victims included women, children, and a Catholic priest who was critically injured. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attacks, calling them a “heinous act” that underscores the state’s precarious security situation.
In Kogi State’s Okoloke community, located in Yagba West Local Government Area, suspected bandits killed three people and kidnapped a traditional ruler last Saturday. The abductors reportedly demanded ₦12 million for the monarch’s release.
Taraba State also witnessed fresh violence as clashes between Bandawa and Fulani communities in Munga Lelau, Karim Lamido Local Government Area, claimed at least 40 lives. Eyewitnesses reported that attackers arrived on motorcycles, opened fire, and set homes ablaze. Victims were buried in mass graves, while locals voiced fears of alleged security force complicity.
The ongoing bloodshed continues to raise urgent questions about leadership, accountability, and the future stability of Nigeria.