Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has tasked the Federal Government to prosecute the perpetrators of the recent bloodshed in Imo state.
It should be recalled that gunmen on Thursday killed no fewer than 15 people, barricaded the Okwelle axis of Okigwe road, set several vehicles ablaze, and attacked motorists and commuters.
The state police command subsequently blamed suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, for the attack.
Obi, reacting in a post on his X page, described the attacks as “barbaric and senseless”.
He said the attack was another grim reminder of the security crisis in the country, stressing that the level of brutality cannot be ignored or normalised.
“Again, we have been confronted with another senseless killing in the country, this time in Imo state, where about 30 people were murdered by gunmen.
“This marks yet another level of embarrassing barbarism in a society already battling an unprecedented level of insecurity. Violent killings, horror and fear have continued to define our daily lives in our nation.
“This inhuman act must be condemned by all. We cannot expect to build a responsible society of humans when we continually desecrate human life without provocation. Such a level of violence and criminality must not continue to have a place in our nation,” he wrote.
According to him, the recurring attacks, violence and killing were a poignant reminder of the country’s collective failure, gradually losing sense of the sanctity of life and becoming accustomed to terror.
He said the government must, at this point, rise up to its duties of protection of lives and property.
“Nigerians cannot continue to live in fear for their lives. Such a level of insecurity is not only inimical to human development but also hinders economic growth and development. I urge the government to investigate, arrest and bring the perpetrators of this mayhem to book,” he added.
