Peter Obi Demands Security Overhaul After Benue and Plateau Killings

Presidential candidate Peter Obi demanded a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria's security architecture following a series of violent attacks in Benue and Plateau states over a single weekend. In Benue, gunmen killed at least 18 people, including 16 individuals in the Otukpo-Nobi community and two in Akpachi village. In the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau, attackers killed nine members of a single family, including a two-month-old baby, across the Kum and Wereng-Camp communities.

Obi described the cycle of bloodshed as horrific and argued that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. He criticized the administration for relying on routine condemnations, asserting that such responses are insufficient. He urged the government to implement a proactive strategy driven by intelligence gathering, rapid response, and accountability to end what he termed a culture of impunity.

Obi further warned that national development is impossible while citizens continue to live in fear. He stated that the situation is a matter of humanity rather than politics, calling for the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the atrocities.