Chief Onyemelukwe Eusebius Zonyelu, former Action Peoples Party (APP) senatorial candidate for Anambra South and 2027 presidential aspirant, has strongly denounced the brutal killings that claimed the lives of an estimated 160–170 civilians in rural Kwara State earlier this month,calls for accountability and Global solidarity.
The attacks, which occurred on 3 February 2026, targeted the farming communities of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area. According to multiple reports, armed extremists launched a coordinated assault from late afternoon into the early hours of the following day, leaving a catastrophic death toll and widespread fear among residents.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Chief Onyemelukwe expressed profound sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and sharply criticized what he described as the “inadequate and delayed response” by Nigeria’s security agencies. He noted that despite the availability of modern surveillance and security technologies, the attackers were able to operate for several hours with little resistance, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture.
Quoting the late military ruler General Sani Abacha, Chief Onyemelukwe said, “If insurgency persists for 24 hours, it suggests a failure or complicity on the part of the authorities,” stressing that the recurring violence in many parts of Nigeria undermines public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
The presidential hopeful also questioned the timing of the First Lady and Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s participation in the 74th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on 5 February — just two days after the massacre. Chief Onyemelukwe urged the federal government to provide clear explanations about its priorities and responsiveness in the face of such national tragedies.
As a committed human rights advocate, Chief Onyemelukwe warned that perpetrators of atrocities against civilians “will ultimately face justice, both under the law and through divine accountability.” He invoked moral and religious condemnations of the killing of innocent people, citing scripture from both the Bible and the Qur’an.
From the Bible, he referenced Exodus 20:13 — “You shall not murder” — and Proverbs 6:16–17, where it is stated that God condemns “hands that shed innocent blood.” He also quoted Islamic texts, including Surah Al-Maidah (5:32): “He who kills an innocent person has killed entire humanity, but he who saves an innocent person has saved entire humanity,” and Surah Al-Isra (17:33), which emphasizes that God “prohibits unlawful killing.”
In an appeal to the international community, Chief Onyemelukwe called on United States President Donald Trump to continue speaking out against mass violence and human rights abuses in Nigeria. He urged global partners not to be misled by narratives that downplay the suffering of ordinary Nigerians caught in cycles of insecurity.
He prayed for peace and divine intervention, concluding his statement with blessings: “May God bless the United States of America. May God bless the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump. May the souls of the victims of violence in Nigeria rest in peace. Amen.”
