Benue Massacre Exposes Leadership Failure — Peter Obi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing the tragedy as a “failure of leadership” and a “stain on our collective conscience.”

Obi’s condemnation comes amid reports that over 200 people, including women, children, security personnel, and internally displaced persons, were killed in a series of violent attacks in parts of Benue.

Eyewitnesses and local leaders have reported widespread destruction, with homes razed and communities left desolate.

On Sunday, residents joined by celebrities took to the street in protest to draw the government’s attention to the killing which they have said has become too common without action to end it.

Reacting, Obi said, “My heart is heavy as I receive news of yet another horrific massacre in Benue State.

“A brutal attack that claimed the lives of over 200 innocent Nigerians, including women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons.

“Homes have been burnt, families shattered, and communities left in ruins,” Obi said in a statement on Sunday.

Obi criticized what he described as a pattern of government inaction in the face of worsening insecurity, saying the tragedy in Benue is not an isolated event but part of a broader national crisis.

“This is not just another tragic episode in our national life — it is a glaring failure of leadership, and a deep stain on our collective conscience,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor emphasized that the security of lives and property is the primary duty of any government, and the repeated failure to fulfill this responsibility raises fundamental questions about the country’s future.

“We cannot continue to normalise mass killings. It is intolerable and unacceptable,” Obi said. “Every life lost is a Nigerian life — precious, irreplaceable, and worthy of protection.”

Obi called on federal and state authorities to go beyond what he termed “symbolic gestures” and take decisive and coordinated action to restore security in affected regions.

“I call on all relevant authorities to move beyond visits and press statements, and deploy the full weight of the state in defence of its people,” he said. “Let your actions speak louder than words. The time has come to prove the government’s commitment to its constitutional duty.”

Addressing the grieving families and people of Benue, Obi offered his solidarity and support.

“To the people of Benue: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice. The survival of our people must not be negotiable.”

He called for national action to end violence and restore dignity to the lives of all Nigerians.

“This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to,” Obi said.

“We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity. A safe Nigeria is possible,” he added.

Benue Massacre Exposes Leadership Failure — Peter Obi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper