By Peter Obi
There are moments when words fail because no words can fully express the pain of losing innocent lives to violence. I have just received distressing reports of the latest attack in Ayilamo, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, where innocent citizens and security personnel have reportedly been killed. My heart goes out to the families who have once again been forced to bury their loved ones, and to the entire people of Logo. I share in your pain.
Only days ago, I travelled to Benue to stand with families devastated by violence in Yelwata. Even in that moment of grief, when all that should have mattered was humanity, my attempt to reach the affected community was disrupted. Yet that experience has only strengthened my conviction that we must never become indifferent to the suffering of our people.
Whether the victim is a farmer, a child, a police officer, a soldier, a Christian, a Muslim, or a person of any ethnic group, every Nigerian life has equal value. We must stop counting our dead and start protecting our living.
I call on the Federal Government and all security agencies to urgently act, bring the perpetrators to justice, and, most importantly, prevent these recurring attacks. Nigeria cannot continue on this path.
My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God comfort them, receive the souls of the departed, and give our nation the wisdom and courage to confront this evil decisively.
A nation that cannot protect the lives of its citizens has a duty to ask itself some very difficult questions. We must do better. We must secure Nigeria.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
