Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has raised concerns over the handling of the mass abduction of worshippers from churches in Kaduna State, following confirmation that more than 150 people were kidnapped during coordinated attacks.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Obi questioned the credibility of earlier denials by some officials who had dismissed reports of the kidnappings as false. He asked how those who initially refuted the incident obtained their information and demanded accountability for threats previously made against individuals accused of spreading “falsehood.”
“Since it has now been confirmed that over 150 worshippers were kidnapped from churches in Kaduna, where and how did those who denied the incident initially get their information?” Obi asked. “And since those who deny threatened to punish the people said to be spreading falsehood, who now face the punishment?”
The former Anambra State governor said the scale of the abduction should have prompted urgent and coordinated national action, stressing that effective leadership requires more than political ambition.
“In any serious country, this would trigger decisive national action, clear communication, and visible leadership,” Obi said. “Leadership is not only about grabbing power, but it is also about presence. It is about speaking when citizens are hurting, acting when lives are at risk, and showing clearly that every Nigerian life matters.”
Obi called for the immediate and safe release of all victims and urged authorities to confront what he described as Nigeria’s persistent insecurity crisis with greater resolve.
“We must act now to ensure that all victims are released safely and unharmed, and to continue confronting decisively this persistent crisis of insecurity in our nation,” he said, adding, “Enough is enough.”
The abductions in Kaduna are the latest in a series of mass kidnappings across northern Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, schools, and places of worship, raising fresh concerns about public safety and government response.
Obi concluded his statement with a renewed call for national renewal, saying, “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
