Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has called on the Federal Government to take drastic measures against the escalating wave of insecurity in Nigeria, warning that the scale of killings now mirrors the devastation seen in war-torn countries.
His appeal came in response to reports that more than 100 people lost their lives in violent attacks across Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and Edo states over the weekend. “Bloody Weekend: over 100 Killed in Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Edo. This grim headline captures the frightening reality reflected in our weekend papers,” Obi wrote on X on Sunday.
He pointed to several disturbing incidents, including the killing of eight officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the abduction of a Chinese national in Edo, the kidnapping of passengers along the Benin–Iyere–Oluku road, and the deaths of five soldiers and 58 civilians in Borno. According to him, these tragedies are not isolated events but evidence that “Nigeria is in the grip of a full-blown security emergency.”
“When over 100 Nigerians are killed in a single weekend, our casualty figures rival those of countries officially at war,” Obi stressed. “This is no longer business as usual. It is time to declare a national war on insecurity — to mobilise every resource, every agency, every state, and to suspend all distractions while we begin the process of reclaiming our nation from lawlessness.”
The former Anambra State governor also extended his condolences to the families of “our fallen heroes,” praising their courage and insisting that their killers must be quickly brought to justice. “Their courage reminds us that we still have men and women who are willing to risk everything for our safety,” he said.
Obi further criticised the government’s frequent foreign trips amid the worsening crisis, insisting that “Even foreign trips by government officials should be put on hold until the situation is brought under control. True leadership must be seen at home, personally coordinating the war against insecurity. Junketing around the world under the pretence of wooing investors, while the country bleeds, is to live in denial. Investors will not come into a war zone.”
He warned that no country could achieve prosperity while its citizens lived under constant siege. Drawing lessons from history, he cited Somalia and Libya as painful examples of how unchecked insecurity can lead to national collapse.
“We must act now, with urgency and courage, to prevent a total descent into anarchy and rebuild Nigeria into a safe, secure, and productive nation for all,” Obi concluded.
What You Should Know
Peter Obi has urged the Federal Government to declare a “national war” on insecurity after over 100 people were killed in violent attacks across several Nigerian states.
He warned that Nigeria’s casualty levels now resemble those of countries in active conflict, stressing that leadership must focus on restoring security before pursuing foreign investment or global engagements.
