The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the recent massacre in Woro Community, Kwara State, where many people were killed by terrorists, blaming the President Bola Tinubu-led government for allegedly ignoring prior warnings.
PDP, in a Thursday statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, called for an independent investigation, immediate humanitarian assistance, a national security summit, and urgent reforms to prevent further loss of lives.
On Wednesday, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed that terrorists had killed 75 people in the state.
Speaking to residents at the palace of the Emir of Kaiama that evening, the governor explained that the victims were “local Muslims massacred for refusing to surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine.”
In response, the PDP criticised the Presidency for focusing more on politics than on fulfilling its core responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.
The party stated, “The most painful part of this sad story is the fact that several community leaders have stated that the notice of this impending attack was available for months, without any meaningful proactive action from the Government, which makes the post-carnage military deployment weak, reactive, and irresponsible.
“The Presidential deployment of the military cannot bring back the killed people or erase the concomitant trauma imposed upon the community. In light of this tragedy, the Peoples Democratic Party demands the following immediate actions: Independent Investigation: Establishment of an independent panel to investigate the security failures that led to this massacre, including why early warnings were ignored.
“Immediate deployment of humanitarian assistance, medical care, and temporary shelter for displaced persons and traumatized survivors in Woro Community. Convening of an emergency National Security Summit involving all stakeholders. And investment in community-based early warning mechanisms and ensuring that credible threats are acted upon promptly rather than ignored.”
PDP once again urged the Federal Government to implement a whole-of-society strategy to deliver a lasting solution to the country’s insecurity challenges.
It continued, “This approach must include intelligence sharing between federal and state security agencies, commencement of State police, addressing the root causes of banditry and terrorism through economic development in affected regions, and regular security briefings on emerging threats.
“Their current ad hoc and reactionary tactics have proven woefully inadequate, with attendant loss of lives. The Tinubu administration must be reminded that being reactionary has never been an effective strategy and cannot be relied on to solve complex problems.
“Undeniably, the Presidency is paying more attention to politics than to the execution of the primary mandate of government which is the protection of lives and property.
“The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to cry out for justice and competent leadership. The time for excuses is over; the time for action is now.”
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