Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing the incident as a national tragedy that demands urgent and decisive intervention from the government.

 

In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Obi expressed deep grief over the reported killing of over 200 people, including women, children, soldiers, and internally displaced persons, in a single attack.

 

“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, and the Benue situation now calls for a national emergency,” Obi wrote.

 

 

 

The former Anambra State governor decried the persistent failure of leadership in the face of recurring violence and insecurity, insisting that governments at all levels must uphold their constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

 

“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 said.

 

 

 

Obi extended his solidarity and condolences to the people of Benue, assuring them that their grief is shared by millions of Nigerians.

 

“To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice,” he stated.

 

 

 

He also urged relevant authorities to move beyond symbolic responses and take concrete actions to stop the bloodshed and restore lasting peace.

 

“A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask; it is our moral duty, our national duty,” he declared. “This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity.”

 

 

 

The killings in Benue have continued to provoke nationwide outrage, with increasing calls for accountability and stronger security measures across affected communities.