By Patience Ndidi Ofure Key
It is with a heavy heart and deep concern as a mother and leader that I, Patience Ndidi Ofure Key, condemn the recent and tragic killing of fellow Nigerian travelers in Uromi, Edo State, who were reportedly on their way to Kano for the Muslim celebration of Eid el-Fitr. This senseless act of violence is a horrifying reflection of the growing lawlessness, fear, and mutual suspicion consuming our communities.
This gruesome and painful act is heartbreaking, unacceptable, and un-Nigerian. My deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims. May God grant them peace that surpasses understanding.
This is not only the height of insecurity, but also the result of decades of government negligence and failure of leadership in protecting lives and property across our nation.
No matter the fear or suspicion surrounding the presence of firearms with some travelers—which indeed raises serious questions that demand investigation—we must never resort to jungle justice or mob action. Justice belongs to the law, not to angry crowds.
Let me be clear: Northerners are not the enemies of Southerners. Southerners are not the enemies of Northerners. Christians are not the enemies of Muslims. Muslims are not the enemies of Christians. Our real enemies are the political leaders who have turned their backs on the people, who have turned insecurity into a business, and who remain deaf to our cries until blood is spilled.
I plead with my brothers and sisters in the North—do not retaliate. Do not let this moment be manipulated by political actors who thrive on ethnic and religious division. This tragedy is not a northern issue, it is a Nigerian issue, and we must all mourn together, rise together, and fight back together—not with weapons, but with wisdom and solidarity.
The former Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, once said:
“If insurgency lasts more than 24 or 48 hours, the government has a hand in it.”
That chilling statement is more relevant today than ever before. When innocent travelers are killed in, when worshippers are bombed, when schoolchildren are abducted, and communities razed, and no meaningful action is taken by government, we must ask: who benefits from this violence?
It is shameful and heartbreaking that Nigerians now live in constant fear—of traveling, of gathering, of simply being alive in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is not the Nigeria we were promised. This is not the country our ancestors fought to build.
We must ask ourselves:
• Where is the government when roads become killing fields?
• Where is the leadership when lives are lost daily without accountability?
• Why does the state only react with press statements instead of prevention?
The government has failed in its primary duty ofsecuring the lives of its people. And that failure has opened the door to chaos.
As our Muslim brothers and sisters across Nigeria and around the world mark this sacred season of Eid, el-fitr, I extend my warmest and heartfelt Eid Mubarak wishes to you all.
This season reminds us of sacrifice, mercy, and the power of unity in submission to God’s will. It is a time for forgiveness, reflection, and coming together as one people—regardless of faith, tribe, or tongue.
As a mother, I celebrate with you. As a Nigerian, I stand with you.
And as a believer in a united Nigeria, I plead with every Muslim faithful and indeed every Nigerian: Do not let the actions of a few rob us of the beauty of who we are together.
May this Eid bring healing to our land. May it restore peace in our communities. May it remind us that what binds us is far greater than what divides us.
I call on every well-meaning Nigerian—North, South, East, and West—to rise above tribal sentiment and religious prejudice. We must desist from falling into the trap laid by politicians who divide us so they can rule us.
• Let us fight for one another.
• Let us mourn every Nigerian death—regardless of region or religion.
• Let us join hands to vote out the recycled political elite who have no vision for Nigeria.
• Let us speak up for victims, demand justice, and refuse to be manipulated.
Our collective enemies are not our neighbors. They are the political class who sit in comfort while the nation burns. We must rise—not with hatred—but with clarity, courage, and commitment to build a Nigeria where every life matters.
To the families of those slain in Uromi, my heart is with you. To the people of Edo State, my home, let this tragedy wake us up to protect all who live and travel through our land.
To Nigerians everywhere: Do not let grief turn into vengeance. Let it turn into unity, into action, into revolution against bad leadership.
The blood of Nigerians is too sacred to be spilled in vain. Let us honor it by choosing peace. Let us fight for justice. Let us demand security. Let us save Nigeria from those who are destroying it.
Patience Ndidi Ofure Key was the PRP Edo Governorship Candidate in 2024.
