The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to declare a “national war” on insecurity, warning that the level of violence and loss of lives in Nigeria now mirrors that of nations in active conflict.
Obi’s call follows reports that over 100 people were killed in a wave of violent attacks across Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and Edo states over the weekend.
“Bloody Weekend: over 100 Killed in Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Edo. This grim headline captures the frightening reality reflected in our weekend papers,” Obi wrote on X on Sunday.
“The killing of eight NSCDC officers, the abduction of a Chinese national in Edo, the kidnapping of passengers on the Benin–Iyere–Oluku road, and the slaughter of five soldiers and 58 civilians in Borno are not isolated tragedies. They are stark evidence that Nigeria is in the grip of a full-blown security emergency.
“When over 100 Nigerians are killed in a single weekend, our casualty figures rival those of countries officially at war. This is no longer business as usual. It is time to declare a national war on insecurity — to mobilise every resource, every agency, every state, and to suspend all distractions while we begin the process of reclaiming our nation from lawlessness.”
The former Anambra State governor condoled the families of “our fallen heroes”, adding that “Their courage reminds us that we still have men and women who are willing to risk everything for our safety.”
He urged that their killers must be swiftly apprehended and brought to justice, as their sacrifices must never be forgotten.
Credit: channelstv.com
