Over 200 Dead, No Visit: Peter Obi Blasts Tinubu Over Silence on Benue Massacre

More than 72 hours after the gruesome killings of over 200 residents in Benue State, the silence and absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the scene have sparked outrage. Leading the charge is Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who accused the President of showing a shocking lack of empathy and respect for Nigerian lives.

Obi took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, June 16, 2025, calling out the federal government’s lack of urgency and physical presence in the wake of national tragedies. He referenced the Benue killings and the recent flooding in Niger State, which left nearly 200 people dead and dozens missing, yet neither incident prompted a presidential visit or declaration of national mourning.

He emphasized that in other parts of the world, such as India and South Africa, leaders immediately show up at the scenes of disaster—sometimes within hours—bringing comfort, assuming responsibility, and sending a clear message of care to their citizens. He noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site of a plane crash that killed 190 people the same day it happened, while South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stood shoulder-to-shoulder with flood victims when 78 lives were lost in KwaZulu-Natal.

The criticism comes as citizens and rights groups continue to question the Nigerian presidency’s response time to national emergencies. Pope Leo had already issued a condolence message a full day before the Nigerian government released any official statement on the Benue killings. Many see this as a disturbing pattern of indifference that further erodes public trust in the leadership.

Obi’s statement also touches on the broader issue of governance and accountability in Nigeria. He condemned the normalisation of impersonal leadership and questioned the country’s tolerance of leaders who fail to show up physically during moments of collective national pain. “We have normalised leadership without empathy, without accountability, and without a human face,” Obi said.

He insists that what Nigeria desperately needs is not just a new president but a true leader—one with competence, character, and compassion. According to Obi, until Nigerians begin to vote based on these principles, the country will remain stuck in a vicious cycle of violence, suffering, and failed leadership.

The Benue massacre, reportedly carried out by suspected herdsmen in villages across Guma and Logo local government areas, has left hundreds displaced, with harrowing visuals and survivor testimonies flooding the internet. Yet, the absence of swift, compassionate, and visible federal leadership response continues to dominate the headlines, with many calling it a moral failure at the highest level of government.