Nigerians Are Being Slaughtered While Leaders Look Away – Peter Obi Laments

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned the ongoing wave of killings in Benue, Kogi and Taraba states, describing the situation as a “national tragedy” and “a glaring failure of leadership.”

Obi in a statement released on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the escalating violence across the states which he said had claimed the lives of countless innocent Nigerians, including children, women, and clergy.

He called for urgent government action to restore security and uphold the dignity of human life.

“The news of the continued senseless killings that have gripped parts of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi States in recent times is heartbreaking,” Obi said.

“What we are witnessing is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership and a gaping wound in the soul of our nation.”

THE WHISTLER reports that recent weeks have seen a sharp increase in attacks on rural communities in the affected states, with dozens killed and thousands displaced.

In Benue, renewed clashes between herders and farmers have led to entire villages being overrun, while in Taraba and Kogi, armed groups have launched brutal assaults on civilians, leaving a trail of destruction.

Despite the mounting death toll, Obi lamented what he described as a muted and ineffective response from the federal government.

“The bloodshed is staggering, yet the response remains weak and muted,” he said. “As homes are destroyed and communities torn apart, we risk normalizing the unacceptable: mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of law and order.”

“These are not mere statistics,” Obi added. “They are our fellow Nigerians. Each life lost is a tragedy that must not be ignored.”

Obi reiterated that the protection of life and property is the most fundamental responsibility of any government.

He questioned the silence and apparent inaction of those in power, warning that the country risks losing its moral compass if such atrocities continue unchecked.

“When this duty is repeatedly ignored, when innocent citizens are butchered and nothing changes, we must ask ourselves: What kind of nation are we building? What future are we promising our children?”

The former presidential candidate extended his condolences to the victims and their families, saying he shares in their grief and anger.

He emphasized that this is not the time for silence or political convenience, but for moral courage and decisive leadership.

“I mourn with the good people of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi. I share their grief, and I feel their pain. But I also raise my voice because silence in the face of such horror is complicity,” he declared.

“We need urgent action, not rhetoric. We need justice, not excuses. We as leaders must value human life and defend it with everything we have.”

Obi added, “Nigeria cannot continue like this. This is not the Nigeria we deserve. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity.”