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The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the recent killings in Benue and Plateau states.
Obi described the attacks as a painful reminder of the “relentless cycle of bloodshed” that has persisted for too long in parts of Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Monday, Obi said the reported murder of at least 16 people in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State, alongside the killing of nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, was deeply disturbing.
“The tragic news of yet another round of killings in Benue and Plateau States is both painful and deeply disturbing,” Obi wrote.
“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 attacks, which occurred over the weekend, left at least 27 people dead in the two states, according to local media reports.
In Benue, suspected armed herdsmen killed 18 people in separate attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area.
In Plateau, gunmen struck Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom late Saturday, killing nine members of one family.
Obi said the primary responsibility of any government was the protection of lives and property, stressing that every Nigerian life was sacred.
“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,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor called for an end to routine condemnations after every attack, urging the government to build a security architecture that is “proactive rather than reactive, driven by intelligence, rapid response and accountability.”
“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,” he said.
Obi extended his condolences to the bereaved families and to the governments and people of Benue and Plateau states, praying for comfort for those who mourn.
“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,” he said.
The attacks have sparked outrage in Benue, with angry youths storming the palace of the Och’Idoma with the bodies of victims, disrupting an ongoing church service and demanding decisive action from the authorities.
Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attacks, describing them as a “barbaric” and ” inhuman assault on the sanctity of life and the collective soul of the people of Benue State.”
Alia also directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and track down the perpetrators.
The Unending Killings in Benue and Plateau- Worrisome.
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…
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) July 13, 2026
