“The Blood of Your Loved Ones Cries Out for Justice” – Peter Obi Reacts to Benue Massacre That Claimed Over 200 Lives

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the massacre in Benue State, where over 200 people—including women, children, security personnel, and displaced persons—were brutally killed in a wave of violence. Obi described the tragedy as a national emergency that highlights the depth of leadership failure in Nigeria.

In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying the frequency and scale of killings in Benue and other parts of the country are unacceptable. “My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue. This tragedy has become too common in our national life… the Benue situation now calls for a national emergency,” he said.

He warned that Nigeria is gradually becoming numb to mass violence and emphasized that such indifference erodes the country’s moral foundation. “This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience. We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable.”

Obi offered heartfelt condolences to the people of Benue, assuring them that their pain is shared across the nation. “To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice.”

He called on the federal and state governments to go beyond empty condemnations and take concrete steps to restore security and peace. According to him, the safety of citizens is not a privilege but a basic duty of government.

“A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask; it is our moral and national duty. This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to. We must end this bloodshed.”

The incident in Benue has sparked nationwide outrage, with civil society groups and concerned citizens demanding stronger security measures and real accountability from those in power.