Ex-presidential candidate warns of Nigeria's violence crisis

Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, a former presidential candidate, raised alarms about the disturbing pattern of mass killings in Nigeria, which he believes is not receiving adequate national or global attention. In a statement issued on Monday, he referred to recent violence in the Shanga local government area of Kebbi State, where 40 people were reportedly killed within a week, although local sources suggest the death toll is significantly higher.

Hashim noted that these incidents are part of a broader trend of increasing violence, with coordinated attacks in Kwara State resulting in 20 to 50 deaths, including five forest guards killed by bandits. He highlighted that in Benu State, 50 to 100 people were killed within a week, and similar patterns were observed in Plateau, Niger, and Nasarawa States.

Hashim criticized the muted response from global institutions like the United Nations and the African Union, arguing that the frequency of killings in Nigeria has not triggered sustained outrage, raising moral questions about the global community's priorities.