Peter Obi Raises Concern Over Rising School Abductions, Calls for Urgent Action
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the increasing number of school abductions in Nigeria, warning that the country risks becoming desensitised to insecurity and violence.
In a statement on Thursday, Obi recalled the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, which sparked global outrage and led to the international #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
According to him, the Chibok incident united Nigerians and drew widespread international attention, placing significant pressure on the government at the time to secure the release of the victims.
Obi, however, lamented that despite numerous school abductions recorded in the years since then, public outrage and international attention have diminished considerably.
The former Anambra State governor noted that Nigeria witnessed about ten school abductions during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, while more than ten similar incidents have reportedly occurred within the first three years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He questioned whether Nigerians had become so accustomed to insecurity that incidents which once shocked the nation’s conscience were now being treated as routine occurrences.
Obi also criticised what he described as the growing focus of political leaders on electoral calculations rather than addressing pressing national challenges, including insecurity, poverty and economic hardship affecting millions of citizens.
While acknowledging that some critics have described Nigeria as a “Now Disgraced Nation,” Obi said the country’s challenges should not define its identity. However, he maintained that persistent insecurity, economic difficulties and leadership shortcomings have negatively affected Nigeria’s image and standing in the international community.
He argued that the solution lies in leadership that is competent, compassionate, accountable and genuinely committed to the welfare and security of citizens.
The former presidential candidate further urged young Nigerians not to become indifferent to the country’s challenges, calling on them to remain actively engaged in efforts to build a better nation.
“Young Nigerians must refuse to normalise failure and take an active role in shaping the future of the country,” Obi said.
Peter Obi Raises Concern Over Rising School Abductions, Calls for Urgent Action