The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over what he described as an alarming surge in violent killings and abductions across Nigeria within the first two months of 2026. In a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, March 1, Obi claimed that more than 1,000 Nigerians were killed between January and February, while several thousand others were abducted during the same period.
According to him, the scale and intensity of violence recorded in just eight weeks surpass conditions in some countries that are formally recognised as being at war. He argued that the human toll reflects a deep national crisis that is not receiving the urgency and unified response it demands from political leaders.
Obi expressed concern that while communities across multiple states grapple with insecurity, national political discourse appears increasingly consumed by calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections. He criticised what he termed the “politics of zero humanity,” accusing members of the political class of prioritising electoral strategies and power negotiations over the immediate safety of citizens.
“It is profoundly disturbing that while we, the politicians, continue to obsess over the 2027 elections—spending our energy scheming about how to capture, grab, and run the next election—the first two months of 2026 have reportedly seen the killing of over 1,000 Nigerians and the abduction of several thousand others,” he wrote.
Describing the situation as a painful national reality, Obi pointed to multiple states affected by violent incidents, including Zamfara, Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa, and Plateau. He said families across these regions have buried loved ones, while some communities have been displaced by persistent attacks, leaving behind homes and livelihoods under the threat of armed violence.
He further asserted that in more than 25 states spanning all geopolitical zones, there have been major security breaches this year alone. These, he said, include kidnappings by armed groups, mass shootings, invasions of rural communities, and assaults on worshippers and travellers. The breadth of these incidents, in his view, demonstrates a nationwide security emergency rather than isolated regional disturbances.
Obi argued that despite the magnitude of the crisis, public conversation among political actors remains disproportionately focused on zoning arrangements, party structures, and campaign alignments for 2027. He described this imbalance as tragic, stating that discussions about political power sharing are proceeding while citizens are sharing funeral programmes.
He referenced a recent incident in the Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State, where families buried victims following attacks by armed assailants. Obi said he watched scenes from the funerals with deep emotion, questioning why national attention appeared more concentrated on partisan manoeuvring than on the lives lost.
“We strategise about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026,” he wrote, characterising the situation as inhumane. According to him, leadership must fundamentally prioritise the protection of life above electoral victory or political dominance.
Obi’s comments add to ongoing national debates about insecurity, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where banditry, insurgent activity, and communal clashes have persisted for years. Although successive administrations have announced security reforms and operational deployments, violent incidents continue to occur in different parts of the country.
By framing the crisis as worse than conditions in some war-torn nations, Obi underscored what he perceives as the abnormalisation of violence in Nigeria. He suggested that the steady flow of casualty reports risks dulling collective outrage and lowering expectations of government responsiveness.
He emphasised that human life must be elevated to a sacred status in national priorities. According to him, the true measure of governance is not electoral success but the extent to which it guarantees the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of citizens. In this context, he called for a shift in political focus from campaign calculations to urgent security reforms and humanitarian interventions.
“Leadership is not about winning elections; it is about saving lives,” he stated. He urged political actors across party lines to re-centre their agendas on immediate national survival rather than long-term electoral advantage.
Obi also reflected on how history judges public officials. In his view, future assessments will not hinge on how effectively politicians perfected campaign strategies or negotiated alliances. Instead, historical memory will focus on whether leaders acted decisively when citizens were under threat.
His message concluded with a reaffirmation of his long-standing reform slogan, expressing hope that a transformed Nigeria remains achievable despite current challenges. “A New Nigeria is POssible,” he wrote.
The post has since generated significant engagement online, with supporters echoing his concerns and critics questioning the casualty figures cited. As of the time of his statement, there was no immediate consolidated official data released to confirm or dispute the specific numbers referenced, though security incidents across multiple states have been widely reported in recent months.
Obi’s remarks reflect broader public anxiety about safety and governance, particularly as the country moves closer to another election cycle. His intervention seeks to redirect national attention toward what he considers a more urgent imperative: preserving human life amid ongoing insecurity.
Whether his call will influence the tenor of political debate remains to be seen. However, his statement underscores a central tension in Nigerian politics—the balance between electoral competition and the foundational responsibility of the state to secure its citizens.
