Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned a fresh wave of deadly attacks across Nigeria, describing the continued loss of lives to terrorism and banditry as unacceptable and deeply troubling, especially at the start of a new year.
Obi’s reaction followed a brutal terrorist assault on Kasuwan-Daji Market in the Domo community of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, where more than 40 people were reportedly killed on Sunday. The attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents recorded across several states in the opening days of the year.
In a statement posted late Sunday on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi expressed grave concern that Nigerians continue to face insecurity as a daily reality, lamenting what he described as the growing normalisation of mass killings across the country.
“It is deeply worrisome and unacceptable that, as we usher in a new year, the cycle of senseless killings and insecurity continues unchecked across our nation,” Obi said.
He referenced other recent attacks, including a deadly raid on Bong village in Doemak District of Plateau State, where armed bandits killed several residents. Similar violence was reported in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, where multiple communities were attacked just days earlier, while on New Year’s Day, gunmen struck Unguwar Naino community in Katsina State, leaving several people dead and many others injured.
According to Obi, these incidents are not isolated but part of a recurring and tragic pattern that reflects the country’s persistent security failures.
“The repeated failure to provide basic security for citizens is a national shame,” he stated, stressing that the protection of lives must remain the foremost responsibility of any government.
Calling for urgent action, Obi urged authorities to adopt what he described as an “all-hands-on-deck approach,” advocating a coordinated, capable, and decisive national response to confront terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent crime.
He also extended condolences to families affected by the recent attacks across Niger, Plateau, Kano, Katsina, and other parts of the country, acknowledging the profound grief left in the wake of the violence.
“To the families who have lost loved ones, no words can truly ease your pain,” Obi wrote. “Know, however, that the nation mourns with you.”
READ ALSO: Terrorists Raid Catholic School in Niger, Abduct Students, Staff
The former Anambra State governor concluded his message with a familiar refrain, expressing hope that the country can overcome its security challenges through leadership, accountability, and collective resolve.
“This cycle of violence must be stopped,” he said. “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
The renewed violence has once again intensified public debate around Nigeria’s security architecture, as citizens and civil society groups continue to demand stronger protection for communities increasingly vulnerable to attacks.