Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has condemned the ongoing killings in Kogi, Benue and Taraba states.
Obi has described the situation as a “national tragedy” and “a glaring failure of leadership,” while calling on government for urgent intervention to stop the blood letting, restore security and uphold the dignity of human life.
The former Anambra State governor in a statement released on Wednesday said that the escalating violence across the states had claimed the lives of countless innocent Nigerians, including children, women, and clergy.
“The news of the continued senseless killings that have gripped parts of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi States in recent times is heartbreaking,” Obi said.
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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.”
“The bloodshed is staggering, yet the response remains weak and muted,” he said. “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,” Obi added. “They are our fellow Nigerians. Each life lost is a tragedy that must not be ignored.”
The presidential candidate further questioned the silence and apparent inaction of those in power, warning that the country risks losing its moral compass if such atrocities continue unchecked.
“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? What future are we promising our children?”
The former presidential candidate extended his condolences to the victims and their families, saying he shares in their grief and anger.
He emphasized that this is not the time for silence or political convenience, but for moral courage and decisive leadership.
“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.
“We need urgent action, not rhetoric. We need justice, not excuses. We as leaders must value human life and defend it with everything we have.”
