By Maxwell Effiong
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the mass killing of over 200 civilians, including children, in Benue State, warning that the nation risks total collapse if urgent action is not taken.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 16, 2025, by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, and obtained from the party’s verified handle, the PDP accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to fulfill his constitutional duty to protect Nigerian lives.
According to the statement, “The gruesome massacre in Benue is another horrifying chapter in Nigeria’s history under an unresponsive APC government.” The PDP said the coordinated killings by terrorists occurred without resistance from security forces.
The party warned that the continued failure to confront the attackers decisively is emboldening them. “It is clear these assailants feel protected by the Tinubu-led APC’s lethargic approach to security,” the PDP stated, alleging possible complicity through inaction.
Videos circulating online show mutilated bodies and destroyed homes, underscoring the brutality of the attack. The PDP noted that while citizens bury their loved ones, the president remains “aloof,” issuing “lame statements” rather than taking charge.
“If nothing is done, the killings will spread, fueling national disintegration, eroding trust in government, and driving communities to self-defense, a recipe for widespread anarchy,” a security analyst told this reporter.
The PDP charged President Tinubu to visit the affected communities and assume full responsibility. “A Commander-in-Chief who cannot lead from the front when citizens are slaughtered has abandoned his post,” the statement declared.
The party claimed over 600,000 lives have been lost to violence in the last two years, a figure it described as “an indictment of government failure and a stain on Nigeria’s humanity.”
While criticizing Tinubu, the PDP commended the sacrifices of security personnel, urging them not to lose morale despite operating under what it called an “incompetent Commander-in-Chief.”
Ologunagba stated: “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims. We stand with all Nigerians demanding justice, peace, and decisive leadership in this dark time.”
If the federal government continues to turn a blind eye, experts warn the country could descend into deeper insecurity, with more communities abandoned to bandits, further undermining state legitimacy.