Amid renewed concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has voiced strong condemnation of the recent massacre in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, urging the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive steps to halt the wave of violence across the country.
On the evening of Wednesday, April 2, suspected armed assailants launched coordinated attacks on five communities in Bokkos, Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai, leaving at least 10 people dead in the initial assault. By Thursday, reports indicated that the death toll had tragically risen to over 40, with more bodies being recovered.
In a deeply emotional statement, Obi described the incident as another horrific chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis. He lamented the gruesome nature of the killings, emphasizing that entire families, including women and children, were mercilessly wiped out in the attacks.
“I woke up to the heart-wrenching news from Bokkos,” Obi said. “The fact that families continue to be targeted and buried in mass graves speaks to a disturbing normalization of violence in our country.”
He questioned the lack of a proactive government response, stressing the urgency of addressing the rampant criminality that has plagued many parts of Nigeria. “How long must communities endure this trauma? How many more lives must be lost before the government treats this as the national emergency it truly is?” he asked.
Drawing attention to the broader impact of insecurity, Obi noted that entire communities now live in constant fear, unable to safely access their farms, markets, or homes without the threat of violence. He warned that such conditions not only erode public trust but also cripple economic and social life in affected regions.
Highlighting other flashpoints across the country, Obi referenced communities such as Jato-Aka in Benue, Eha-Amufu in Enugu, Ufuma in Anambra, and Aba Oyinbo in Ondo all of which he said face similar threats but continue to lack adequate protection from security agencies.
“Our people deserve to feel safe in their own homes,” Obi said. “The lives of Nigerians, regardless of their state or ethnicity, must be treated as sacred. This level of lawlessness cannot become the norm.”
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He concluded with a firm call to action, urging the Federal Government and security forces to not only end the killings but to implement long-term measures that would prevent future attacks and bring those responsible to justice. “These atrocities must not be allowed to persist. Justice must prevail, and our government must rise to its responsibility of protecting every Nigerian life.
