Peter Obi Condemns Killings in Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Says Nigeria Must Reclaim Its Humanity

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has decried the continued wave of violence and killings in Benue, Kogi, and Taraba States, describing the situation as heartbreaking and a direct result of failed leadership.

In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, Obi lamented the spate of senseless killings, which he said had devastated communities and claimed the lives of innocent Nigerians — including women, children, and religious leaders.

“What we are witnessing is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership and a gaping wound in the soul of our nation,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor expressed deep concern over what he called the weak and muted response from authorities, warning that the ongoing bloodshed risks becoming normalized in a nation where the sanctity of human life should be paramount.

“As homes are destroyed and communities torn apart, we risk normalizing the unacceptable: mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of law and order,” Obi said, adding that “each life lost is a tragedy that must not be ignored.”

He emphasized that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of life and property, questioning the future of the country if this duty continues to be neglected.

“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?”

Obi offered condolences to the grieving communities and insisted that urgent action must replace empty rhetoric. He called on Nigerian leaders to break their silence and commit fully to the defense of human life.

“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 justice, not excuses,” he declared.

Reaffirming his belief in a better Nigeria, Obi concluded: “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.”