Peter Obi blames leadership failure for Benue killings
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 elections and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent mass killings in Benue State by suspected armed herdsmen, describing the gruesome killings as a direct consequence of leadership failure in Nigeria.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 elections and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent mass killings in Benue State by suspected armed herdsmen, describing the gruesome killings as a direct consequence of leadership failure in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Obi expressed heartbreak over the attacks, which claimed the lives of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons.
He called for an urgent national response, warning against the growing normalisation of mass killings in the country.
Obi offered words of solidarity to grieving communities in Benue, assuring them that their suffering is not in vain.
He also called on authorities to move beyond mere rhetoric and take concrete, decisive steps to protect vulnerable communities.
His words, “My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, all senselessly slain.
“This tragedy has become too common in our national life, and the Benue situation now calls for a national emergency. .
“Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin. This is not merely violence.
“It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience.
“The primary duty of any government, federal, state, or local is to protect lives and property.
“When it repeatedly fails, we must ask: What kind of nation are we bequeathing to our children?.
“To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice.
“The survival of our people must not be negotiable; it must be urgent, deliberate, and comprehensive action.
“Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements.
“A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask,it is our moral duty, our national duty.
“We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity."
A local leader, Matthew Mnyan, claimed the death toll could be as high as 200, including five security personnel.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the scale of the killings goes beyond isolated violence and reflects systemic governance failure.
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