Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over the increasing frequency of violent attacks and killings across Nigeria, describing the situation as a national tragedy that demands urgent action.

In a statement issued on Saturday via X, Obi said the alarming regularity of bloodshed has tragically diminished the value of human life in the country.

“The regularity of bloodletting of innocent souls in our country has reduced the news value of human deaths,” he lamented.

Citing multiple incidents that occurred within just 24 hours, Obi painted a grim picture of the state of security across Nigeria. He pointed to a bomb explosion in Kano that reportedly left at least five people dead and many others injured.

He also referenced the killing of 12 wedding guests in Plateau State, with 11 others injured, and noted that 30 people were confirmed dead in Kebbi following a bandit attack.

“In Borno, a female suicide bomber killed 24 citizens. In Katsina, bandits gunned down a police inspector,” Obi stated, highlighting the nationwide spread of violence. “All of this just in a day, for a country that is not even at war.”

He expressed concern that insecurity has reached even areas once considered peaceful and urged the authorities to treat the issue as a top national priority.

“We must begin to treat insecurity as an utmost national priority and to see the criticism on it as a genuine and constructive voice to help direct authorities to their failings,” he said.

Obi condemned what he described as the lack of empathy from leaders toward grieving citizens.

“The grieving Nigerians are not shown any empathy by leaders,” he said, calling on the government to provide adequate response and take responsibility for the protection of lives.

He warned that persistent insecurity, alongside unchecked corruption, continues to harm Nigeria’s global reputation.

“The world is watching. People see these killings and corruption all over the system. Allowing these insecurities and corruption to continue is the real demarketing of the country,” he added.

Obi concluded by urging all stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action.

“We must tackle this insecurity now. It is destroying lives and demarketing our nation. All hands must be on deck. We must act now to save our country. Nigerians deserve to live,” he said. (The PUNCH)