Nation of unending tragedy - Obi laments killings in Adamawa, Anambra, Sokoto

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, PeterObi, has condemned the series of killings recorded in Adamawa, Anambra andSokoto States over the past few days, describing Nigeria as a nation trapped in“an unending tragedy.” Obi made the remarks on Tuesday in a statement posted on hisX (Twitter) account, where he called for urgent reforms in national securityand governance. Obi said the latest incidents — whichinclude the killing of innocent worshippers in Anambra, the death of sevenwomen protesters in Adamawa, and renewed bandit attacks in Sokoto — reflect a deepening crisisthreatening the fabric of the country. “We areconfronted with the painful daily reality that insecurity continues to threatenthe very soul of our nation,” he wrote. He warned that no country seeking stability and progresscould afford to normalise such levels of violence. “No country aspiring togrowth, stability, and prosperity can accept this level of violence as normal,”he said, stressing that security remained the foundation upon which all aspectsof national development rest. Obi said the killing of worshippers in Anambra signalled afailure to safeguard religious spaces, while the deaths of women protesters inAdamawa showed a “deep breakdown in trust between citizens and securityagencies meant to safeguard them.” He added that persistent bandit attacks inSokoto demonstrated that terrorism and criminality in the North-West remainedfar from being resolved. Calling for leadership that prioritises the protection ofcitizens, Obi said Nigeria urgently needs leaders “who would provide justicefor innocent citizens who are facing these calamities every day.” Beyond security, he identified poverty, unemployment, weakinstitutions and lack of opportunity as underlying drivers of unrest across thecountry. He argued that sustainable peace required investment in socialservices. “A secure nation is one where citizens are educated, healthy,economically included, and confident that justice will be served when wrongsare committed,” he noted. Obi urged Nigerians to recommit to building a more secureand united country. “As we mourn the lives lost, we must also renew ourcommitment to building a Nigeria where such tragedies become a thing of thepast,” he said. He prayed for the repose of the victims and comfort fortheir families. “May the souls of all those we have lost rest in peace... And maywe, as a nation, find the courage to demand and build a safer, secure, and moreunited Nigeria.”

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