Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has issued a scathing critique of Nigeria’s worsening security situation, questioning the federal government’s priorities following reports of a mass abduction of worshippers in Kaduna State over the weekend.
In a statement released Tuesday, Obi expressed deep concern over reports that approximately 172 people were seized from churches, an incident that has reportedly been met with official denials from security agencies.
The Labour Party leader characterised the frequent reports of kidnappings as a “greater crisis of safety, leadership, and unity” that has been allowed to become a grim feature of daily life.
“What is happening in our country?” Obi asked. “This is yet another unfortunate consequence of a nation where insecurity has been allowed to grow, unchecked and unchallenged in our everyday lives, as though it were normal. This should not be.”
The incident in Kaduna follows a string of violent attacks across Benue, Zamfara, Kano, Niger, and Plateau states. Obi noted that while Nigeria is not officially at war, the mounting number of victims and the discrepancy in official figures suggest a state of instability that rivals nations in active conflict.
The former governor specifically called out the government’s allocation of resources, suggesting that the protection of citizens has taken a backseat to political interests.
“A government that can mobilise resources for waste, for propaganda, for foreign lobbyists, but cannot secure communities or protect its people has misplaced its priorities,” Obi stated.
Addressing the confusion surrounding the Kaduna incident, Obi challenged the government and police to look beyond mere denials of specific events. He argued that the mere frequency of such reports, whether contested or confirmed, points to a systemic failure in the nation’s security architecture.
“Whether confirmed or contested, the frequency of such reports alone shows a greater crisis,” he said. “Can we keep waking up to news of mass abductions, disputed figures, and official denials while citizens live in fear?”
Obi concluded his statement by offering prayers for the safe return of those taken and calling for a fundamental shift in how the Nigerian government values the lives of its people. He urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action, asserting that the country deserves a leadership that treats human life as “sacred.”
