Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s contender in the 2023 general election, has sounded a dire warning to President Bola Tinubu against the escalating threat of anarchy amid the surge in banditry and kidnapping incidents across the nation.
Taking to his official platform on X, Peter Obi voiced deep concern over the alarming insecurity gripping the country. The former governor of Anambra State underscored the imperative of addressing poverty as a pivotal strategy to quell the tide of unrest.
“Once again, Nigerians are confronted with harrowing reports of violent attacks unfolding in various regions of the country,” Obi remarked. “From the heart-wrenching loss of about 50 lives, including a family of seven, in a militia clash in the Ukum area of Benue State, to the abduction of over 100 internally displaced persons, predominantly women, by terrorists in Borno State.”
In his impassioned plea, Obi stressed the debilitating impact of insecurity on the nation’s economic and social fabric, cautioning against the perilous descent into chaos. He lamented the distressing trend where farmers in Northern Nigeria are coerced into paying exorbitant sums to bandits merely for the right to cultivate their lands, exacerbating food insecurity and economic instability.
Acknowledging the sacrifices made by security agencies in combating the menace, Obi urged for intensified efforts to equip them adequately in the fight against criminal elements. However, he emphasized that sustainable solutions lie in addressing the root causes of poverty and unemployment, advocating for robust job creation initiatives and support for small-scale enterprises.
Highlighting the vast agricultural potential in the Northern region, Obi underscored the need for strategic investments to harness this resource as a means of empowering youth and curbing criminal activities.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to all families who have suffered loss as a result of these despicable attacks, and I fervently pray for the swift recovery of the injured and the safe return of those abducted,” Obi expressed in solidarity.
Amid reports of fresh abduction incidents, including the recent assault on LEA Primary School in Kuriga town, Kaduna State, where scores of pupils were kidnapped, the urgency of addressing the security crisis looms large on the national agenda.
