The 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has again decried the spate of killings and abductions in Nigeria, noting that insecurity has worsened under the Tinubu administration.
Obi, in a statement on Monday, Obi described the situation as alarming, calling for urgent action from political leaders to protect citizens.
“Despite not being at war, the killings, abductions and banditry incidents in our country continue to be daily and increasing at a worrisome rate,” he said.
The presidential aspirant cited the recent attack in Okigwe, Imo State, where many residents were killed and several others declared missing, as further proof of the worsening security crisis.
He also referenced a report by Amnesty International, which he said had warned that the Nigerian government was “emboldening bandits” through its “stunning failure” to protect citizens.
He added that Amnesty described the week as “a bloody one,” citing several incidents, including the massacre of over 50 worshippers in a mosque in Katsina, the abduction of more than 60 people in the same state, and the killing of over 15 farmers in Mangu, Plateau State.
Obi decried that in just two years of the present administration, over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed by armed groups across various states.
“Instead of improving security, insecurity has worsened under this administration. Nigeria, which is not even officially at war, has recorded over 10,000 civilian deaths in just two years, a number similar to civilian deaths in Ukraine, which is officially at war,” he said.
He added that the situation demands immediate action, stressing that the primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property.