Free Nigeria Movement, a pro-democracy group, has described the recent killings in Benue State as a national disgrace.
At the end of the group’s strategic meeting, it also held a press conference in Abuja, where the convener of the meeting, Dr. Moses Paul called for national day mourning in honour of the victims.
It also stressed that the government has failed in its responsibility of providing security and welfare for the citizens.
“What is happening in Benue is shameful. Unfortunately, it appears Nigerians have gotten used to the killings hence the cold silence. Why is there no national outcry? Even the media has since moved on from the story, the same way they have abandoned Borno State, returning only when there are ‘new’ deaths to report the numbers.
“But these killings happen every day. Women, men, children, property, all destroyed, and a country is calm? These are people with names, relationships, hopes, dreams. I cannot imagine how we can just move on and allow the killings to continue unabatedly like Benue is Nigeria’s abattoir?” Paul said.
He said politicians have broken the resolve of Nigerians to the point where they have lost the ability to demand for accountability, a cardinal trait of democracy.
“In any place in the world where governments work, the heads of security agencies would have tendered their letters of resignation for the needless loss of one life. Let alone here where the loss of lives is needless and gruesome.”
He therefore called on Nigerians to return to the values of peace, progress, unity and faith that formed a cloak of national cohesion for the nation. “There is no better time to think Nigerian than now. We must begin to look beyond religion and tribe. What is happening in Benue should affect someone in Enugu like it would affect another in Sokoto, Rivers, Abuja, or Delta. There should be no lines in how we respond to evil. The killings in Benue are evil and must be equally condemned by all Nigerians.”
Paul blamed the culture of indifference among Nigerians as the cause for the silence on the Benue killings.
“I think it’s an emerging behavioural attribute of Nigerians amassed through long years of inept discordant leadership.
“Somehow, Nigerians have gotten used to not feeling anymore. Like we have been tortured and traumatized for decades and our bodies have grown weak to feelings. It’s a huge human tragedy that is playing out here,” he said.
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