Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the recent attacks in Benue and Plateau states that left scores dead, saying the continued bloodshed across parts of the country has become intolerable.
Obi, in a statement released via his X account on Monday, described the killings as a tragic reminder of the worsening security situation confronting many communities and called on the authorities to take urgent steps to halt the violence.
The latest attacks claimed at least 18 lives in Benue State, including 16 people reportedly killed in the Otukpo-Nobi community and two others in Akpachi village, Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area.
In neighbouring Plateau State, gunmen reportedly killed nine members of the same family, among them a two-month-old baby, during attacks on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night.
Reacting to the incidents, Obi said the repeated loss of innocent lives in Benue, Plateau and other parts of the country should concern all Nigerians.
He noted that many communities had endured years of attacks, displacement and destruction, with thousands forced to live in fear and uncertainty.
"The reported murders in Benue and Plateau are a painful reminder that the relentless cycle of bloodshed in parts of our country has persisted for far too long," Obi stated.
According to him, countless families have been torn apart by violence, while farmers have abandoned their farmlands and communities have been devastated by recurring attacks.
"We cannot continue to accept this tragic cycle as though it were normal. It is not," he said.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that protecting citizens remains the fundamental duty of government and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to safeguard lives and property.
He argued that every life lost to violence represents a personal tragedy and a setback for national development.
"These are not mere statistics; they are fathers, mothers, children, breadwinners and future leaders whose dreams have been violently cut short," Obi said.
The NDC standard-bearer further urged the government to adopt a more proactive security strategy centred on intelligence gathering, swift intervention and accountability.
He maintained that those behind the attacks must be tracked down and brought to justice, warning that continued impunity would only embolden criminal elements.
Obi also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
He added that addressing insecurity should transcend political considerations, insisting that restoring safety and public confidence was critical to Nigeria's progress.
"No country can develop when its citizens live in fear, and no society can prosper when innocent blood continues to flow unchecked," he said.
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