Insecurity: Nigeria under siege — Obi

By Muideen Olaniyi 

A former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, on Monday said the nation is clearly under siege, and the scale of insecurity is becoming unbearable as it spreads across the country.

His reaction came as Boko Haram terrorists overran another military camp in Borno State on Monday, killing the commanding officer and other personnel.

The latest attack occurred in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State in the early hours of Monday.

The incident followed a previous attack on a military base and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ngoshe town, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno, which resulted in an unspecified number of soldiers and civilians being killed.

In a post on X on Monday, the former governor of Anambra State cited this week’s incident in Borno State’s Ngoshe community, where terrorists overpowered soldiers, killed them and several civilians, and abducted more than 100 women and children, while highlighting the silence of the country’s leaders.

He also referenced recent attacks in Nasarawa, Oyo, Kebbi states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, calling on the government to discharge its primary responsibility to protect lives and property across the country.

The post, titled ‘Politics in front as insecurity spreads’, read:

“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.

“From Nasarawa, Kogi, and Benue, residents are screaming that terrorists now flock to their farms and forests, disrupting economic activities and forcing entire villages to flee in fear. In Nasarawa’s Kadarko area alone, 14,318 civilians are now registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs).

“In Oyo State, travellers were abducted in the dead of night along the Kishi‑Igbeti road; their whereabouts remain unknown. In Ondo State, criminals shot at, abducted, and wounded innocent citizens. In Kebbi State, terrorists are on a rampage, killing officers and civilians, marking the third deadly attack this month.

“The wave of terror has now brazenly reached our nation’s capital. The attack in Kubwa, Abuja, just this week saw about 19 citizens abducted from their homes, including women and children. This is yet another grim reminder that insecurity is no longer distant but now a norm. These national tragedies are happening simultaneously across the country, claiming the lives of civilians and security operatives alike.

“The primary responsibility of any government is to secure the lives and property of its citizens. Yet, the response from the current administration to all these incidents has been dead silence, as if Nigerian lives no longer matter. The ruling class appears more preoccupied with how to snatch, grab, and secure the next election.

“These are not just news items; Nigerians deserve commitment and leadership that prioritises their safety and welfare.

“It is time to restore security, dignity, and hope to every corner of this nation. A new Nigeria is possible.“