Peter Obi condemns “senseless killings” in northern States, calls for urgent action

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing violence plaguing Taraba, Benue, and Kogi States, describing the situation as “a failure of leadership” and calling for immediate government intervention to end the bloodshed.

In a statement released on Wednesday on X, Obi expressed deep concern over what he termed the “continued senseless killings” that have devastated communities across the three states in recent months, claiming numerous lives and displacing families.

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“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, highlighting the severity of the crisis that has affected men, women, children, and religious leaders.

The former presidential candidate painted a grim picture of the situation, noting that “a wave of violence has devastated communities across Taraba, Benue, and Kogi, claiming countless lives and wiping out families.”

He emphasized that among the casualties are vulnerable populations including children, women, and clergy members.

Obi criticized what he described as an inadequate response to the crisis, stating: “The bloodshed is staggering, yet the response remains weak and muted.”

He warned against the normalization of mass violence, expressing concern that Nigeria risks accepting “mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of law and order” as routine occurrences.

The former governor directed sharp criticism at the federal government’s handling of the security situation, invoking the government’s constitutional responsibility to protect citizens.

“I have always maintained that the primary duty of the National government is the protection of life and property. When this duty is repeatedly ignored when innocent citizens are butchered and nothing changes, we must ask ourselves: What kind of nation are we building?”

While expressing solidarity with the affected communities, Obi made it clear that sympathy alone was insufficient. “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,” he declared.

The statement concluded with a passionate call for systemic change, as Obi declared: “Nigeria can not continue like this. This is not the Nigeria we deserve. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity.”

The violence in the affected states has been attributed to various factors including farmer-herder conflicts, communal tensions, and criminal activities, with security agencies struggling to contain the escalating situation across the region.