Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has condemned the recent wave of killings and abductions across several states, saying Nigeria is “bleeding” and in urgent need of leadership.
In an X post on Tuesday, Obi described the incidents as a reflection of a deepening security crisis and a failure of governance.
“What we have witnessed across our country in just the past 48 hours is not only tragic, it is utterly unacceptable,” he said.
Obi cited attacks in Katsina, Adamawa, Kaduna and Benue states, as well as the killing of an entire family in Plateau and the abduction of children in Kogi and Kaduna.
He said at least 11 people were killed in Katsina, seven in Benue, and 23 in Adamawa within a day.
He added that 24 children were abducted from an orphanage in Kogi, while 10 others were taken in Kaduna.
“These are not mere statistics; they are our fellow Nigerians whose lives have been brutally cut short or violently disrupted,” he said.
HUMAN LIFE NO LONGER PROTECTED
Furthermore, Obi said the scale and frequency of the incidents show that human life is no longer adequately protected in the country.
“Nigeria is bleeding. We are fast becoming a nation where human life is treated as expendable,” he said.
He warned that insecurity continues to undermine national development.
“A nation cannot develop under the weight of such persistent insecurity and human tragedy,” he said.
Obi questioned the response of authorities, asking for greater coordination and accountability.
“We must ask: where is the leadership? Where is the coordination, the competence, and the compassion required to confront this menace?” he said.
He expressed sympathy with affected families and called for urgent action.
“My heart goes out to all the grieving families. I pray for the safe return of all abducted children,” he said.
Obi said addressing insecurity must become a national priority, adding that calls for a “new Nigeria” now reflect an urgent necessity rather than a political slogan.
