Edo murders: Nigerian government, governing class must be held accountable, says Socialist Group

According to reports, victims were suspected of kidnappers or herdsmen and were thrown by local vigils instead of being handed over to police. The Movement for a Socialist Alternative (MSA) condemned the murder of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, describing the crowd attack as ‘barbaric and unjustifiable’. However, the group placed the ultimate responsibility on the ruling elite of Nigeria and accused successive governments of not addressing the causes of the country’s increasing security and economic crises. According to reports, victims were suspected of kidnappers or herdsmen and were thrown by local vigils instead of being handed over to police. The MSA noted that such extraordinary murders were disturbingly common because of the collapse of public confidence in law enforcement and state institutions. In a statement signed by AJ. MSA Secretary Secretary of MSA argued: “The failure of the police and the government to protect communities from kidnappers and livestock, forced people to take the law into their own hands. But many justice is not the solution – it only deepens the cycle of violence.” The MSA emphasized that the Boer-Shepherd conflict, fueled by desert formation in the north and untouched migration, has led to more than 542 deaths and 2.2 million displacements since 2019 (per STC intelligence). The group said despite repeated warnings, no concrete government’s actions were done to solve the crisis. “Instead of investing in sustainable solutions, the Tinubu administration has exacerbated economic hardships by anti-arm policies, pushing inflation and poverty to unbearable levels.” The group has accused the Tinubu government of being more concerned about the oppression of protests than tackling uncertainty or economic collapse. “Police are quickly attacking peaceful protesters, but does not protect farmers from herdsmen or citizens from kidnappers,” the MSA said. The statement reads: “The current Tinubu regime has failed to address any of the urgent challenges of the country for almost two years. Instead, it has worsened economic conditions, high inflation, widespread uncertainty and mass poverty fueled. The country is currently experiencing an unprecedented increase in the cost of living. According to him, the middle belt region, including Benue, Plateau and Nazarawa state years, was for the epicenter of these violent conflicts, with little to no meaningful intervention of the government. Now the crisis is escalating and spreading south, leading to further loss of different parts of the country. These developments emphasize the governing elite-end-from disposal of the duty of the duty of the duty of the country. Crisis does not affect their personal interests. “Meanwhile, Nigeria’s safety agencies remain overwhelmed by poor financing, insufficient well -being and insufficient manpower. Rather than being deployed to protect the masses, the few available police officers are assigned to politicians and VIPs, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable. This will further divide the working masses against themselves, instead of building the necessary unit of the working class needed to accept the Tinubu regime and the various wings of the ruling class, as a step to the work mass, “the group said:” Only a well -organized working -class movement may be able to report real solutions to these fundamental challenges. Mobilizing workers to challenge political office, challenging the corrupt neoliberal regimes that prioritizes the profits above the welfare of the people.