Obi warns: Nigeria must stop the bloodshed

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Nigerian government to act decisively against the escalating violence across the country.

In a statement shared on X on Sunday, Obi condemned recent attacks in Benue, Plateau, and Niger states, describing them as part of a worsening national security crisis.

He highlighted the assault on Jwak Maitumbi in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where at least 23 people were officially confirmed dead, though locals reported over 30 casualties. More than 45 houses were destroyed in the incident.

Obi also pointed to attacks in Borgu, Niger State, where reports suggested over 40 deaths and more than 100 abductions, though figures remain disputed. In Benue, he noted that communities continue to suffer repeated killings, kidnappings, and destruction of livelihoods.

“What is happening in Benue, Plateau, and Niger mirrors the violence elsewhere in Nigeria, with many attacks going unreported,” Obi said. He stressed that these incidents should no longer be treated as isolated but as part of a broader national emergency.

“Nigeria is not officially at war, yet citizens are being attacked in their villages, abducted after prayers, driven from their homes, and stripped of their farms,” he warned.

Obi called on federal, state, and local authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid-response capabilities, and prioritize prevention over reaction. He emphasized that protecting lives and property is the most basic duty of government.

“We cannot keep counting bodies after every attack. We must prevent these attacks before they happen,” he said, urging leaders to act decisively.

He concluded with a stark warning: “Nigeria must not become a killing field.”