Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed deep sorrow over the latest attack on five communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, where dozens of people, including women and children, were brutally killed.
Obi, in a statement released on his official X account on Friday, described the massacre as yet another “gory and deeply distressing” tragedy that has become all too common in Nigeria. He lamented that entire families were wiped out in the attack, with victims being buried in mass graves.
The affected communities, Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai are now in mourning, grappling with the devastating loss of their loved ones, according to Obi.
However, the former Anambra State governor questioned how long such killings, kidnappings, and other violent crimes would continue in a country that is not officially at war. He criticized the normalization of mass killings and burials, stressing that every Nigerian life is valuable, regardless of location.
“We are now normalizing mass killings and mass burials as a way of life in our nation. Every Nigerian life is sacred, whether in Edo State, Benue, Enugu, Borno, Anambra, Ondo, or Plateau,” he wrote.
Obi pointed out that communities across the country, including Bokkos in Plateau, Jato-Aka in Benue, Eha-Amufu in Enugu, Ufuma in Anambra, and Aba Oyinbo in Ondo, are living in constant fear due to the unrelenting attacks. He emphasized that people can no longer go to their farms or markets without the risk of being killed, kidnapped, or injured.
He said, “We are now normalizing mass killings and mass burials as a way of life in our nation. Every Nigerian life is sacred, whether in Edo State, Benue, Enugu, Borno, Anambra, Ondo, or Plateau.
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Communities now live in fear and no longer have a livelihood either in their farms or in their markets, without being killed, kidnapped, and maimed. Communities like Bokkos in Plateau, Jato-Aka in Benue, Eha-Amufu in Enugu, Ufuma in Anambra, and Aba Oyinbo in Ondo deserve government protection.”
Decrying the situation as “extremely unacceptable,” he urged the federal government and security agencies to take decisive action to end the violence and ensure that perpetrators face justice.
“The government and security agencies must ensure that these killings are stopped, concrete steps are made to prevent future occurrences, and those arrested face the justice they deserve,” Obi stated.
Expressing his condolences to the affected communities, Obi reiterated that no Nigerian should have to live in fear. He called for urgent intervention, insisting that the safety of citizens should be a top priority for the government.
“My heart goes to the people of Bokkos, and others in various communities.
No Nigerian should live in fear as the government must do what it takes to protect Nigerians”, he said.
