Peter Obi, a former general election candidate for president of the Labour Party in 2023, has denounced the recent spate of murders in Kwara State, calling the tragedy unfortunate and a reflection of the country’s worsening security situation.
Obi claimed he was “deeply saddened” by news that gunmen assaulted areas including Woro and Nuku, purportedly murdering roughly 150 people, in a message posted on X on Thursday.
He sent his sympathies to the state’s citizens, the government, and the grieving families.
“These killings represent a major failure for us as a nation, and every loss of innocent life is tragic,” he wrote.
The former governor of Anambra State warned that Nigeria’s condition has gotten worse than in certain war-torn nations, pointing out that the ongoing violence in several regions of the nation emphasizes the urgent need for swift action against insecurity.
“These frequent acts of violence throughout our nation, which are now worse than what happens in some warring nations, highlight the urgent need for us, as a nation, to declare war on insecurity of lives and property and to deploy every possible means to end this scourge,” Obi said.
He urged the appropriate authorities to act quickly to restore order to the impacted areas, make sure those responsible are held accountable, and reassure the public that they are safe.
Since then, the killing has attracted significant outrage from community residents, political personalities, and civil society organizations. Many of them have urged for increased military operations and a more robust security presence in the area.
In response, security guards have been sent to the impacted areas to stop additional attacks, and government representatives have promised the public that the perpetrators would be found and brought to justice.
