The Labour Party has strongly condemned the recent wave of brutal killings in Benue State, urging the Nigerian government to deploy security forces urgently to protect vulnerable communities across the North Central region.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Caretaker Committee Chair, Senator Nenadi Usman, the violence was described as “a fresh wave of senseless killings” that claimed over 100 lives, including women, children, displaced persons, and security operatives. The party called for a full-scale investigation and prosecution of those responsible, “regardless of status or affiliation.”
“These were not mere numbers. They were human beings, innocent lives ended brutally,” Usman lamented.
“Children who deserved safety were slaughtered. Mothers who should be nurturing families were buried in mass graves. Fathers who tried to defend their homes were cut down without mercy,” she said.
Usman condemned the attacks as further evidence of Nigeria’s systemic failure to protect its citizens. She cited the torching of homes, ambushes on security operatives, and repeated assaults on displaced persons as indicators of a deepening national crisis.
“This bloodshed in Benue should rattle every conscience.
It’s more than a regional crisis; it’s a national disgrace. The boldness of the attackers and the vulnerability of the victims reveal a troubling vacuum in leadership and accountability,” Usman stated.
The Labour Party also called for a comprehensive humanitarian response, including the provision of food, shelter, medical aid, and trauma counselling for survivors.
Urging Nigerians to go beyond “routine condemnations,” Usman emphasized that continued silence and indifference only encourage further atrocities.
“To the grieving families, I mourn with you as a mother.
To the orphaned children, the widowed women, and the devastated communities, your cries are heard. Your pain resonates nationwide, and your demand for justice must not be ignored,” she added.
She reaffirmed the Labour Party’s commitment to championing policies that uphold the safety, dignity, and welfare of every Nigerian, particularly in rural and conflict-affected regions.
“Nigeria cannot continue like this,” Usman concluded.
