Nigeria is bleeding, Obi decries widespread insecurity

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over what he described as an unprecedented wave of insecurity, chaos and institutional decay across the country in the past 10 days. In a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, Obi said the spate of abductions, […]

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over what he described as an unprecedented wave of insecurity, chaos and institutional decay across the country in the past 10 days.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, Obi said the spate of abductions, killings and attacks on public institutions showed that the nation was drifting due to “collective leadership failures”.

He listed a series of violent incidents recorded across several states, including the kidnapping of six senior directors of the Ministry of Defence on the Kogi axis on November 11, the killing of a Brigadier General on November 15, and the abduction of 64 civilians in Zamfara a day later.

Obi also cited the abduction of 25 schoolgirls and killing of their vice principal in Kebbi on November 17, and the attack on worshippers in a church in Kwara State on November 18, where several people were reportedly killed and 38 abducted.

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He described as disturbing the crisis at the PDP Wadata Plaza headquarters on November 18, alleging that some security agencies escalated the situation rather than calm it.

Obi further faulted the conduct of some judicial officers at the All Nigeria Judges’ Conference, where they stood as a partisan song was played ahead of the president’s address, saying the incident eroded public trust in the judiciary.

He said soldiers heading to rescue the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls were ambushed on November 19, while on November 21, over 300 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State.

He noted that bandits also opened fire on farmers in Kaduna on November 22, killing one, while five police officers were killed and two injured in a terrorist ambush in Bauchi on November 23.

Obi added that he received fresh reports of the abduction of 13 female farmers in Askira-Uba LGA of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

“No serious nation survives on excuses, indifference, or absentee leadership,” he said, insisting that the rising insecurity was a consequence of leaders failing to protect citizens.

Obi urged the government to show competence, compassion and responsibility, saying Nigerians deserved safety and peace.