Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has visited communities affected by recent attacks in Benue State, calling on the federal government to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.
Mr Obi made this known in a post on his official Facebook page on Friday after visiting Otukpo-Nobi and Efeyi-Ugboju communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
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He said he visited Otukpo-Nobi, where more than 10 people were killed or declared missing in an attack, and Efeyi-Ugboju, where more than 13 people were reportedly killed.
According to him, he joined residents at the mass burial site in Otukpo-Nobi to pray for the victims and also visited injured survivors in the hospital.
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“Having visited, seen, and spoken with those affected, I urge the Federal Government to demonstrate a greater commitment to securing the lives and property of citizens and to closing the ungoverned spaces that have become breeding grounds for insecurity,” he said.
Mr Obi also said he was informed during the visit that 14 people had been abducted along Ankpechi Road earlier that morning.
He described the government’s responsibility for protecting citizens as a “sacred obligation,” saying communities affected by violence should not be left to cope with recurring attacks.
“The primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of its citizens. When government fails in this responsibility, as it has with the people of Otukpo-Nobi, Efeyi-Ugboju, and other troubled communities, it must be reminded of that sacred obligation,” he said.
Recent attacks
The NDC presidential candidate’s visit comes amid a series of deadly attacks in Benue South.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that suspected armed herders attacked Otukpo-Nobi on 12 July, killing at least 10 residents and injuring several others.
On 28 July another attack occurred at Efeyi-Ugboju in the same local government area. At least 15 people were reportedly killed in the early-morning attack, according to local authorities and residents.
The attack triggered widespread fear in neighbouring communities, with residents fleeing their homes and calling for stronger security presence.
READ ALSO: Mass burial for 15 Benue attack victims as farmers face bandits’ levies
A mass burial was subsequently held for the victims of the Efeyi-Ugboju attack on August 9, with 15 white caskets laid to rest as families and community members mourned the victims.
The latest attacks have heightened concerns over insecurity in Otukpo and other parts of Benue, where communities have repeatedly come under attack despite the presence of security agencies.
Mr Obi expressed sympathy for the victims and their families and prayed for the repose of those killed and the recovery of those injured.
“May the souls of the departed continue to rest in perfect peace,” he said.
Photo: Peter Obi stands with victims’ families at the mass burial ground.
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