Nigeria’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for an all-out national mobilisation to combat the country’s worsening security crisis after a weekend of bloodshed left over 100 people dead across several states.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday via X page, Obi described the killings as “a national tragedy that can no longer be treated like routine news.”
He said the wave of attacks, from the slaughter of civilians and soldiers in Borno to abductions in Edo, was proof that Nigeria is “bleeding and in urgent need of a declaration of war on insecurity.”
Over the weekend, gunmen killed at least 58 civilians and five soldiers in Borno State, kidnapped passengers along the Benin–Iyere–Oluku road, abducted a Chinese national in Edo, and murdered eight officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The coordinated assaults have shaken public confidence in the country’s ability to protect its citizens.
“My heart goes out to the families of our fallen heroes,” Obi said.
“Their bravery reminds us that Nigeria still has men and women willing to stand in harm’s way for our safety.
“But their killers must not go unpunished. Justice must be swift, and their sacrifices must be honoured.”
Obi warned that casualty numbers at this scale rival those in countries officially at war, urging the federal government to treat the situation as an existential threat.
“We can no longer behave as though this is normal,” he said. “Every resource, every agency, and every state must be mobilised to reclaim our country from lawlessness.”
He also advised government officials to suspend foreign trips until the crisis is contained. “Leadership must be present at home, not abroad,” he said.
“No investor will bring money into a war zone. Going around the world to court investment while Nigeria burns is living in denial.”
Obi further cautioned that unchecked insecurity is the fastest route to national collapse, citing Somalia and Libya as examples of countries that spiralled into chaos after failing to respond decisively.
“This is the time for courage and urgency,” he stressed.
“We must act now to halt the descent into anarchy and rebuild a secure, productive nation. A new Nigeria is still possible, but only if we make safety our immediate priority.”
AFRIPOST reports that the latest surge in killings has renewed calls from across the country for a comprehensive security overhaul, with analysts warning that continued inaction could lead to widespread instability and economic decline.