Nigeria, a nation rich in culture, potential, and vibrant spirit, finds itself grappling with a tragic paradox. Despite not being officially at war, its citizens are dying at a rate comparable to conflict zones, caught in the grip of a ruthless and escalating campaign of violence by non-state actors. This grim reality was once again brought to the fore by Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, who has vehemently bemoaned the unending killing spree terrorizing the country.
Speaking on his official X handle yesterday, Obi amplified a chilling report from Amnesty International, revealing that over 10,000 lives have been senselessly lost to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs in just two years alone. This staggering figure is not just a statistic; it represents countless families shattered, communities displaced, and a nation bleeding from within.
“We can’t stop bemoaning the unending killing in the country,” Obi stated, capturing the widespread frustration and despair. “Despite not being at war, the killing, abduction and banditry incidents in our country continue to be daily and increasing at a worrisome rate.”
The human cost of this widespread insecurity is palpable. Obi referenced the recent attack in Okigwe, Imo State, which claimed numerous lives and left many others missing and feared dead, as a stark reflection of “the alarming insecurity reality in our dear country.”
Further underscoring the severity, Obi pointed to Amnesty International’s recent warning that the Nigerian government is, inadvertently or otherwise, “emboldening bandits through its ‘stunning failure’ to protect citizens.” The past week alone, described by Amnesty as “bloody,” saw an unimaginable horror unfold:
- The massacre of over 50 worshippers in a mosque in Katsina.
- The abduction of over 60 people in the same Katsina State.
- The killing of over 15 farmers in Mangu, Plateau State, displacing more than 200 families.
These are not isolated incidents but a pattern of relentless violence that paints a distressing picture of a nation under siege.
Perhaps the most jarring comparison Obi draws is between Nigeria and Ukraine. “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 highlighted. This means that, in a period of relative peace on the global stage, Nigeria’s internal crisis has claimed almost as many civilian lives as a country embroiled in open warfare. This isn’t just a crisis; it’s a conflict masquerading as peace.
The numbers are clear: instead of improving, “insecurity has worsened under this administration and in just two years, with new armed gangs emerging.”
The gravity of the situation demands an urgent and decisive response. As Peter Obi rightly concluded, echoing a fundamental principle of governance: “The first duty of any government is to secure the lives and property of its people. We must now wake up as a nation.”
The time for abstract discussions is over. Nigeria is bleeding, and its citizens deserve to live without the constant fear of being the next victim. The government, and indeed all stakeholders, must rise to this existential challenge and reclaim the safety and security that every Nigerian deserves.
