NDC presidential candidate visits Otukpo-Nobi, Efeyi-Ugboju communities, calls for urgent action against insecurity
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has visited communities affected by recent deadly attacks in Benue State, calling on the Federal Government to do more to protect lives and property.
Obi visited Otukpo-Nobi and Efeyi-Ugboju, both in Otukpo Local Government Area, where recent attacks have left residents dead, injured and displaced.
During the visit, the former Anambra State governor joined residents in prayers for victims at the site of a mass burial and later visited injured victims receiving treatment in hospital.
Obi said his visit was not simply to sympathise with the victims but to see the situation personally and listen to people affected by the violence.
According to him, several residents of the affected communities were killed or reported missing, while others sustained injuries during the attacks.
The situation in Efeyi-Ugboju has been particularly serious. On July 28, reports indicated that armed attackers invaded the community in the early hours of the morning, with local authorities confirming that at least 14 bodies had been recovered while several residents were wounded.
The Benue State Government subsequently said security personnel engaged the attackers and neutralised two suspected assailants during the operation.
The attacks have increased concerns about the security situation across parts of Benue South, with communities around Otukpo and neighbouring areas facing repeated incidents.
A member of the House of Representatives representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, Blessing Onuh, recently appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen security operations in the affected communities.
She called for stronger military and security presence and proposed the establishment of a permanent Joint Task Force to improve response to attacks.
The insecurity has also affected major roads in the area.
In July, three siblings travelling with their mother’s remains for burial were reportedly abducted along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road between Omutele and Ankpechi communities in Ohimini Local Government Area. Two of the siblings were later released, while the third remained in captivity at the time of the initial reports.
Against this background, Obi said the Federal Government must show greater commitment to protecting Nigerians living in vulnerable communities.
He argued that government has a basic responsibility to secure the lives and property of citizens and should not allow ungoverned spaces to become safe areas for criminal groups.
“The primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of its citizens,” Obi said.
He maintained that the continued suffering of residents in communities affected by violence should be treated as a national emergency rather than an isolated local problem.
The former governor also called for stronger action to secure rural communities, forests and other areas where criminal elements may operate with little resistance.
His visit comes as insecurity remains one of the major issues likely to shape political debate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The latest attacks have also triggered renewed demands from political leaders, community representatives and residents for stronger security deployments in Benue.
The Federal Government and security agencies have faced increasing pressure to prevent attacks, rescue abducted residents and restore confidence among communities affected by violence.
For residents of Otukpo-Nobi and Efeyi-Ugboju, however, the immediate concern remains survival.
Homes and livelihoods have been disrupted, families have lost relatives and some residents have been forced to leave vulnerable areas for safer locations.
Obi urged the government to go beyond statements and respond with concrete measures capable of preventing further attacks.
He also expressed sympathy with families who lost loved ones and prayed for the recovery of those injured during the violence.
The visit further placed the worsening security situation in Benue at the centre of national attention, particularly as the country moves towards another general election.
While political parties prepare for the 2027 contest, communities affected by insecurity continue to demand immediate protection rather than political promises.
For Obi, the tragedy in Benue is a reminder that the security and welfare of citizens must remain at the centre of government responsibility.
He called for decisive action to close security gaps, protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of lives.
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