Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over continued attacks across the country, saying the killings undermine the president’s recent security assurance in Jos.
Obi raised the concern in a post on X on Monday, days after Tinubu, during a visit to Plateau state, promised that the violence in Jos “will not repeat itself”.
He said fresh attacks recorded in multiple states shortly after the pledge point to a failure of leadership and responsibility.
“Less than 24 hours after that promise, another attack occurred in Nyamgo Gyel, Jos south LGA, with several innocent Nigerians killed,” Obi said.
He added that the violence has since spread to other parts of the country, leaving communities in grief.
According to him, gunmen attacked communities in Nasarawa state, killing at least 11 people, burning homes, and forcing residents to flee.
He also cited a mass abduction in Zamfara state, where about 150 persons were reportedly kidnapped from Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji communities.
Obi said on the same day, insurgents attacked Chibok in Borno state, killing security operatives and destroying property.
He further noted that over 17 persons were killed in Benue state on Easter Sunday, while fresh attacks in Kaduna state reportedly claimed several lives, including worshippers in churches.
Obi said the wave of violence raises serious concerns about the government’s capacity to protect lives and property.
“This represents a failure of leadership, and Nigerians are paying for it with their lives,” he said.
He added that the persistence of attacks suggests that perpetrators are emboldened by inaction.
“These attackers are not ghostly figures. Our inaction emboldens them,” he said.
Obi said the situation has become a national emergency, urging authorities to take urgent and decisive steps to address the insecurity.
“Nigeria is bleeding, and the situation is worsening. The primary responsibility of government is to protect lives and property, and that responsibility is failing,” he said.
