Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the increasing number of school abductions in Nigeria, warning that the country appears to be growing accustomed to insecurity and repeated attacks on students.
In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, Obi compared the national reaction to the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls with the response to more recent incidents, noting that the outrage and international attention that followed the Chibok tragedy have not been replicated despite the recurrence of similar attacks.
According to him, the abduction of the Chibok girls sparked a global movement and united Nigerians under the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, placing significant pressure on the government at the time.
“The abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014 triggered a global movement. One school abduction was enough to unite Nigerians, attract international attention, and place enormous pressure on the government through the #BringBackOurGirls campaign,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor argued that Nigeria has experienced numerous school abductions since then, yet public outrage has steadily diminished.
“Under President Buhari’s eight years in office, Nigeria witnessed about ten school abductions. Under President Tinubu’s administration, in just three years, we have already recorded over ten school abductions,” he said.
Obi questioned whether Nigerians have become desensitised to insecurity, saying, “Have we become so accustomed to insecurity that what once shocked our national conscience is now treated as normal?”
He further criticised political leaders for allegedly prioritising political interests over pressing national concerns, including insecurity and economic hardship.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with insecurity, poverty, and hardship, it is deeply troubling that those in power appear more focused on political calculations and preparations for the next election than on addressing the urgent challenges confronting our people,” he said.
Obi also lamented the impact of the country’s challenges on its international image, noting that insecurity, economic difficulties and leadership failures have affected Nigeria’s reputation globally.
While rejecting attempts to define the country solely by its current challenges, he maintained that the nation’s standing among other countries has suffered due to persistent governance and security issues.
He called for leadership that is “competent, compassionate, accountable, and genuinely committed to the welfare and security of the Nigerian people.”
The former presidential candidate concluded by urging young Nigerians not to become indifferent to the country’s challenges.
“The Nigerian youth must not become indifferent. We must all refuse to normalise failure. Young Nigerians – Take back your country!” Obi declared.