Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the latest wave of killings in Benue and Plateau states, saying Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful development while innocent citizens continue to lose their lives to violence.
Obi made the remarks in a statement shared on his X account on Monday following fresh attacks that reportedly claimed several lives in both states.
The former Anambra State governor expressed sadness over the killings, including the reported death of at least 16 people in Otukpo-Nobi, Benue State, and the killing of nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to Obi, the attacks highlight the worsening insecurity affecting communities across the country.
“For years, families in Benue, Plateau and other communities across Nigeria have lived under the constant shadow of fear, violence and displacement. We cannot continue to accept this tragic cycle as though it were normal,” he said.
The former governor lamented that many families have lost loved ones, while farmers have abandoned their farmlands due to recurring attacks.
He stressed that protecting lives and property remains the primary responsibility of any government.
“Every Nigerian life is sacred, and every life lost is one too many. These are not mere statistics; they are fathers, mothers, children, breadwinners and future leaders whose dreams have been violently cut short,” Obi stated.
He called on the authorities to move beyond routine condemnations by adopting a more proactive security strategy driven by intelligence, rapid response and accountability.
Obi also urged security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attacks, insisting that the culture of impunity must come to an end.
While extending his condolences to the bereaved families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states, he said restoring security should remain a national priority.
“This is not about politics; it is about humanity. No country can develop when its citizens live in fear, and no society can prosper when innocent blood continues to flow unchecked,” he added.
Source: Peter Obi (X).
