By Olaitan Ibrahim
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi has issued a passionate condemnation of the latest massacre in Benue State, describing the killings as a “stain on our collective conscience” and urging the Federal Government to declare a national emergency.
Reacting via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, Obi decried what he called the “normalisation of mass killing” and accused political leaders of failing in their most fundamental responsibility—protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.
“My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue—of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, all senselessly slain. Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin,” Obi stated.
Calling the attack a “failure of leadership,” Obi argued that the scale and frequency of bloodshed in Benue have gone beyond localised violence and now demand national intervention.
“This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience… We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable,” he added.
Obi urged the federal, state, and local governments to move past symbolic gestures and deploy real, actionable strategies to protect lives in the region.
According to him, expressions of concern without decisive follow-through only deepen the suffering of victims and erode public trust.
“The time has come to move beyond symbolic gestures to decisive deployment. Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements,” he said.
Addressing the people of Benue directly, Obi offered his sympathies, saying, “Your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice.”
He reiterated that protecting Nigerian lives must be non-negotiable and called for urgent, comprehensive intervention.
“A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask. It is our moral duty, our national duty. This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity,” he added.