A prominent member of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over the escalating wave of insecurity across Nigeria, accusing national leaders of remaining silent while citizens and security personnel continue to lose their lives.
In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, Obi said the country appears to be under siege as violent attacks intensify across several states.
The former governor of Anambra State pointed to a recent attack in Ngoshe community in Borno State where terrorists reportedly overran soldiers, killing both security personnel and civilians and abducting more than 100 women and children.
“Our nation is clearly under siege, and the scale of insecurity is becoming unbearable, spreading widely all over the country,” Obi wrote.
He also lamented what he described as the silent treatment given to the sacrifices of fallen soldiers who died defending the country.
“The sacrifice of our brave and dedicated soldiers is passed in silence. I look forward to the day when our fallen soldiers are given the dignified burials they deserve, with their bodies received and honoured by the nation’s leaders and political authorities,” he said.
Obi further highlighted security challenges in several states including Nasarawa State, Kogi State and Benue State, where he said residents have been forced to flee their homes as armed groups take over farms and forests, crippling local economic activities.
According to him, more than 14,000 civilians have already been registered as internally displaced persons in the Kadarko area of Nasarawa State alone.
The former presidential candidate also referenced separate incidents in Oyo State, Ondo State and Kebbi State where travellers and residents were reportedly abducted or killed.
Obi warned that insecurity is no longer limited to remote communities, noting that attacks have recently reached the nation’s capital, Abuja.
“The wave of terror has now brazenly crept into our nation’s capital. The attack in Kubwa, Abuja, just this week, saw about 19 citizens abducted from their homes, including women and children,” he said.
The politician criticised what he described as the government’s inadequate response to the worsening security crisis.
“The primary responsibility of any government is to secure the lives and property of its citizens. Yet the response from the government in power to all the incidents has been dead silence, as if Nigerian lives no longer matter,” Obi stated.
He also accused the political elite of prioritising electoral politics over the urgent need to tackle insecurity.
“The ruling class are instead devastatingly more preoccupied with how to snatch, grab, and run away with the next election,” he said.
Calling for immediate action, Obi stressed that Nigerians deserve leadership that prioritises the safety and welfare of citizens.
“These are not just news items. Nigerians deserve commitment and leadership that puts their safety and welfare first. It is time to restore security, dignity, and hope to every corner of this nation,” he added.