Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has decried the recent massacre in Benue State, describing the killing of over 200 people—including women, children, security personnel, and displaced persons—as a national tragedy that demands immediate and decisive action.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Obi expressed heartbreak over the scale of violence that has ravaged the state, labelling the event as symptomatic of leadership failure at every level of government.
“My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue. This tragedy has become too common in our national life… the Benue situation now calls for a national emergency,” Obi stated.
He criticized the normalisation of mass violence in Nigeria, warning that such indifference endangers the country’s collective conscience and humanity.
“This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience,” he said. “We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable.”
Obi extended his sympathy to the people of Benue, assuring them that their plight resonates with Nigerians nationwide.
“To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice.”
He urged federal and state authorities to move beyond mere condemnation and take real, effective steps to ensure security, justice, and lasting peace in the state.
“A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask; it is our moral and national duty. This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to. We must end this bloodshed.”
The Benue killings have sparked widespread outrage across the country, with increasing calls for enhanced security measures and government accountability to protect vulnerable communities.
