Yemi Obafemi
Peter Obi, former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, has described the rising wave of violence and killings in parts of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi States, as a tragic consequence of failed leadership and a threat to Nigeria’s collective humanity.
He stated in a statement on his X handle.
Obi expressed heartbreak over the “continued senseless killings” that have devastated communities in the affected states in recent months.
He lamented the loss of countless innocent lives — including children, women, and men of faith — and condemned the apparent inaction and muted response from authorities.
The news of the continued senseless killings that have gripped parts of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi States in recent times is heartbreaking. What we are witnessing is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership and a gaping wound in the soul of our nation.
The statement reads: “In recent months, a wave of violence has devastated communities across Taraba, Benue, and Kogi, claiming countless lives and wiping out families. Among the victims are children, women, and even men of faith, casualties of a prolonged crisis that shows no sign of abating.
“ The bloodshed is staggering, yet the response remains weak and muted. As homes are destroyed and communities torn apart, we risk normalizing the unacceptable: mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of law and order.
“These are not mere statistics, they are our fellow Nigerians. Each life lost is a tragedy that must not be ignored.
Obi emphasized that the protection of life and property remains the foremost responsibility of any government. He questioned the direction in which the nation is headed, particularly when citizens are routinely killed without consequences or accountability.
“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. We as leaders must value human life and will defend it with everything we have.
“Nigeria can not continue like this. This is not the Nigeria we deserve. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity,” the statement added.
