Obi: Nigerians dying from gunmen attacks daily — this isn’t normal

Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has expressed concern over the spate of gunmen attacks across the country.

In a statement on Sunday, Obi, who was reacting to reported bandit attacks in parts of Kogi and Kwara states, described the country’s insecurity situation as a “national emergency”.

The former Anambra governor said the incidents are “senseless and heartbreaking”, adding that no nation should normalise the routine killing of its citizens.

“I am deeply disturbed by the tragic reports of yet another senseless attack in Kogi State’s Yagba West Local Government Area, where over 27 innocent Nigerians were killed by armed bandits,” Obi wrote on X.

“The images are heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the entire people of Kogi state.

“This comes as reports from neighbouring Kwara state say that nine of its 16 local government areas are under siege by bandits who now demand food and drink as ransom.

“The nine local government areas under bandit control include Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Kaiama, Oke-Ero, Patigi and Irepodun.

“The security situation is now a national emergency. It is deeply troubling that insecurity has become a normal occurrence in our nation, where our citizens die daily at rates higher than in some war zones. This is not normal.

“Our citizens cannot sleep in their own homes in peace, our farmers are being driven away from their lands by bandits, our children are living in fear of being attacked, and our nation continues to bleed.

“Leadership must be about protecting lives and property, the most basic duty of any government.”

The ex-presidential candidate also prayed for the victims’ eternal rest, solace for their bereaved families, and divine wisdom for leaders to safeguard the lives of all Nigerians.