Former Labour Party presidential candidate and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised fresh alarm over the worsening security situation in the country, declaring that the wave of kidnappings and attacks has evolved into a national emergency that now threatens every Nigerian, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or location.
In a statement posted on his social media platforms on Monday, Obi condemned the reported abduction of worshippers in Enugu State, describing the incident as another painful reminder that no part of the country can now be considered safe.
Expressing deep concern over the attack, Obi said it was heartbreaking that citizens who had gathered in the house of God in search of hope and spiritual comfort were subjected to a traumatic criminal assault.
He warned that insecurity was no longer confined to states historically plagued by violence, noting that places such as Borno, Benue, Plateau, Zamfara and Katsina had long battled deadly attacks, but that the threat had now spread across the nation.
According to him, every Nigerian now faces the frightening possibility of being attacked while worshipping, working, studying or even sleeping at home.
Obi urged the nation’s security agencies to immediately intensify rescue operations to secure the freedom of the abducted worshippers and ensure that those responsible for the crime are swiftly arrested and prosecuted.
He stressed that the fight against insecurity must rise above politics, ethnic divisions and religious sentiments, insisting that protecting the lives of Nigerians should be treated as a collective national responsibility.
“The inviolability of human life must remain the highest priority for any government,” Obi said, adding that Nigeria must never accept kidnappings, killings and violent attacks as a normal part of daily life.
He maintained that every Nigerian life is precious and called for urgent, coordinated and decisive action to end the country’s growing security crisis.
Obi’s latest intervention comes amid a series of attacks on religious gatherings across Nigeria. In January, he similarly demanded decisive action after more than 150 worshippers were reportedly abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In April, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also condemned an attack on a church gathering in Eda-Oniyo, Ekiti State, where a pastor was reportedly killed and several worshippers abducted, renewing calls for stronger security measures to protect places of worship across the country.
With attacks on religious centres becoming increasingly frequent, Obi warned that restoring security must become the government’s foremost priority before more innocent lives are lost.