Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, accusing the federal government of failing in its primary responsibility to protect citizens.
Obi, in a post shared on his official X handle on Tuesday, lamented that Nigeria has effectively become a “killing field,” with over 10,000 lives lost to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs in just two years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Citing figures released by Amnesty International, Obi said the relentless wave of violence across states shows no signs of abating. He described the trend as “worrisome” for a nation not officially at war, adding that the situation is comparable to the civilian death toll in Ukraine, which is battling a full-scale invasion.
“The recent attack in Okigwe, Imo State, that claimed many lives and left several people missing, reflects the frightening reality of insecurity in our dear country,” Obi said. “Over the weekend, I read that Amnesty International warned that the Nigerian government is emboldening bandits through its stunning failure to protect citizens.”
Amnesty International had described last week as particularly bloody, highlighting multiple attacks: the massacre of more than 50 worshippers inside a mosque in Katsina, the abduction of over 60 people in the same state, and the killing of at least 15 farmers in Mangu, Plateau State, which displaced more than 200 families within days.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Obi stressed. “Amnesty International further revealed that in just two years of this administration, over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed by armed groups across various states. Instead of improving security, the crisis has worsened, with new armed gangs emerging.”
He warned that the staggering death toll reflects a failure of leadership and governance. “Nigeria, which is not at war, has recorded over 10,000 civilian deaths in just two years, almost as many as Ukraine, a nation under open warfare,” he said.
Obi urged political leaders across party lines to rise above “name-calling and politicking” and focus on safeguarding lives and property. “The first duty of any government is to protect its people. We must put citizens first and act with urgency. The time to act is now. A new Nigeria is possible.”
