Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has said Nigeria is now normalizing mass killings and mass burials as a way of life.

He said this while expressing distress at a report from Bokkos, Plateau State, where families were slaughtered, with children and pregnant women not spared.

He lamented that five communities in Bokkos - Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai - have been left in mourning, forced to bury their loved ones in mass graves.

He said in a statement on Friday, "How long will these killings, kidnapping, maiming and criminality continue in our nation that is not at war? How long must we wait to act decisively and focus on this drastic situation that is crippling our nation? How many more must die before the government act for the people?

"We are now normalizing mass killings and mass burials as a way of life in our nation. Every Nigerian life is sacred, whether in Edo State, Benue, Enugu, Borno, Anambra, Ondo, or Plateau.
Communities now live in fear and no longer have a livelihood either in their farms or in their markets, without being killed, kidnapped, and maimed. Communities like Bokkos in Plateau, Jato-Aka in Benue, Eha-Amufu in Enugu, Ufuma in Anambra, and Aba Oyinbo in Ondo deserve government protection."

Obi called for an end to grief and terror, saying it is becoming extremely unacceptable.

"The government and security agencies must ensure that these killings are stopped, concrete steps are made to prevent future occurrences, and those arrested face the justice they deserve.

"My heart goes to the people of Bokkos, and others in various communities.

"No Nigerian should live in fear as the government must do what it takes to protect Nigerians," he said.

ASA