By Desire Emmanuel
Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, on Monday, July 13, expressed worries over the latest attacks by herdsmen in Benue and Plateau states which reportedly led to the killing of at least 25 persons.
Media reports said at least 16 persons were killed by the armed herders in the Nobi community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The herdsmen were said to have stormed the community in the early hours of Sunday and unleashed terror on the residents.
Also in Plateau State, armed herders reportedly killed nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, during a Saturday night attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area.
The attack reportedly started at about 11:30 p.m. and lasted for over one hour. The village head of the community was also critically injured.
Reacting to the two incidents, however, Obi in a post on his verified X handle said the time has come for the government to move beyond routine condemnations after every attack, adding that the relentless cycle of bloodshed in various parts of the country has persisted for far too long.
He wrote: “The tragic news of yet another round of killings in Benue and Plateau states is both painful and deeply disturbing.
“The reported murder of at least sixteen innocent Nigerians in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State, alongside the horrific killing of nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, once again reminds us that the relentless cycle of bloodshed in parts of our country has persisted for far too long.
“For years, families in Benue, Plateau and other communities across Nigeria have lived under the constant shadow of fear, violence and displacement. Mothers have buried their children, children have become orphans overnight, farmers have abandoned their lands and entire communities have been left devastated. We cannot continue to accept this tragic cycle as though it were normal. It is not.
“The primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. Every Nigerian life is sacred, and every life lost is one too many. These are not mere statistics; they are fathers, mothers, children, breadwinners and future leaders whose dreams have been violently cut short.
“The time has come to move beyond routine condemnations after every attack. Nigerians deserve a security architecture that is proactive rather than reactive, driven by intelligence, rapid response and accountability. Those responsible for these atrocities must be identified, arrested and prosecuted. The culture of impunity must end.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and to the governments and people of Benue and Plateau states. I pray that God grants comfort to all who mourn, healing to the injured, and strength to every community struggling to rebuild after these repeated tragedies.
“This is not about politics; it is about humanity. We must summon the collective will to secure our nation and restore hope to our people. No country can develop when its citizens live in fear, and no society can prosper when innocent blood continues to flow unchecked.”
