Nigeria is in Crisis, Declare State of Emergency Now – Peter Obi

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has once again raised serious concerns about the deteriorating state of security across Nigeria.

In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Obi declared that “Nigeria is bleeding” and urgently called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity.

This appeal comes after a bloody weekend of tragic killings. Reports confirmed that eight officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) were brutally murdered in Edo State. Similarly, in Borno State, five Nigerian soldiers and at least 58 innocent civilians were killed, leaving the nation in mourning.

The former Governor of Anambra State described these incidents as undeniable proof that the country is trapped in a full-scale security crisis. He emphasized that such relentless killings cannot continue without strong and immediate government intervention.

While expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, Obi urged the Federal Government to take swift action by arresting the perpetrators and ensuring that justice is served without delay.

Obi’s post highlighted the scale of the crisis:

“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.”

He went further to stress that the government must declare a national war against insecurity. According to him, the solution lies in mobilizing all national resources, agencies, and states while putting aside political distractions to rescue Nigeria from lawlessness and violence.

The call by Peter Obi echoes the cries of many Nigerians who believe that insecurity—ranging from banditry to terrorism, kidnappings, and violent attacks—has reached unprecedented levels.