Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity following the recent attacks in Benue and Plateau states.
Obi made the call in a statement shared on his official page on July 13, 2026.
Reacting to the incidents, he noted that the attacks reportedly claimed at least 16 lives in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State and nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old infant, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to Peter Obi, the persistent violence, displacement and destruction of livelihoods in Benue, Plateau and other parts of the country underscore the urgent need for stronger security measures, stressing that such tragedies must not be accepted as a normal occurrence.
“The tragic news of yet another round of killings in Benue and Plateau States is both painful and deeply disturbing,” Obi stated.
“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 added.
He called for a security strategy that prioritises intelligence gathering, rapid response and accountability, adding that those responsible for the attacks should be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“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 demanded.
Peter Obi also extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, as well as the governments and residents of Benue and Plateau states, expressing hope that affected communities would recover from the attacks.
BACKSTORY:
Nigeria has continued to grapple with recurring attacks by armed groups in several parts of the country, particularly in Benue and Plateau states, where violent clashes and assaults on rural communities have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years.
Despite repeated security operations and government interventions, many communities in the North-Central region have continued to experience killings, displacement and the destruction of homes and farmlands, prompting renewed calls for stronger measures to protect lives and property.
The latest wave of violence, which reportedly left at least 16 people dead in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue State and claimed the lives of nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, has once again sparked nationwide concern over the country’s security situation.
Reacting to the incidents, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to address the worsening insecurity. He stressed that the continued bloodshed, displacement of residents and destruction of livelihoods in Benue, Plateau and other affected parts of the country should not be accepted as a normal reality, calling for urgent and decisive action to safeguard vulnerable communities.
