‘You must lead from the front’ — Valentine Ozigbo writes Tinubu on killings, abductions

Valentine Ozigbo, a former governorship candidate in Anambra, has written to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to take full responsibility for the rising killings and abductions across the country.

Ozigbo, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, said the security situation in the country has deteriorated to alarming levels, noting that Nigerians are living in fear as violent attacks escalate in several states.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said the president must “lead from the front” by strengthening intelligence gathering, boosting operational capacity, and providing clear direction to security agencies.

Ozigbo described recent incidents of mass abductions, attacks on rural communities, and the murder of security personnel as “unacceptable tragedies that demand urgent and decisive leadership”.

He said Tinubu cannot delegate the gravity of the crisis, adding that the constitution makes the president the commander-in-chief with the ultimate responsibility to protect citizens.

“Mr President, the buck stops with you,” Ozigbo wrote, urging Tinubu to prioritise rescue operations for abducted victims and overhaul the nation’s security strategies.

He called for enhanced collaboration among security agencies, investment in technology-driven surveillance, and stronger community-based intelligence systems.

Ozigbo added that Nigeria cannot continue to normalise violence, saying the government must restore public confidence by demonstrating that no part of the country is beyond the reach of the state.

He urged the president to unite the nation at a time of deep anxiety, warning that insecurity is eroding public trust and threatening national stability.

Earlier, Chibuike Amaechi, former governor of Rivers, said the federal government has failed to show political will in addressing the rising wave of killings, kidnappings and terrorist attacks across the country.

Amaechi, the immediate past minister of transportation, said the frequency and scale of recent assaults have weakened public trust in the government and emboldened terror groups.