Former Anambra State Governor and erstwhile presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lamented the deepening cycle of violence in Nigeria warning that the country has become “a nation of unending tragedy.” The comments come in response to recent killings across several states, including attacks on worshippers, lethal force against protesters, and renewed banditry.
In a statement shared via his social-media account on Tuesday, Obi expressed grief over the mounting death toll. “In the last few days, our nation has once again been thrown into mourning by a series of heartbreaking tragedies across Adamawa, Anambra, and Sokoto states,” he said. He pointed to recent incidents from the killing of innocent worshippers to the deaths of peaceful women protesters, and continuing bandit attacks in the Northwest as evidence of the pervasive insecurity threatening the very soul of Nigeria.
Obi warned that no nation pursuing development can normalise such levels of violence. He stressed that security must be the bedrock of any meaningful progress: without it, schools cannot function, farms cannot thrive, businesses cannot grow, and citizens cannot live with dignity.
He singled out the killings in Anambra as a glaring failure to protect places of worship and ordinary citizens going about their lives and the deaths of female protesters in Adamawa as proof of a breakdown in trust between citizens and security agencies. Meanwhile, ongoing attacks in Sokoto and other Northwest states, he said, show how banditry and terrorism continue to ravage parts of the country despite repeated promises of action.
Obi called for leadership that values human life and delivers justice, urging that every Nigerian regardless of region, religion, gender, or social status be protected. He said the country needs leaders committed to ensuring every citizen lives in safety and dignity.
He also pinned part of the blame on systemic issues: poverty, unemployment, weak institutions, and lack of opportunity are in his view among the underlying drivers of recurring unrest and instability. Obi argued that sustainable peace requires significant investment in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and institution-building.
As Nigeria reels from one tragedy after another, Obi’s message is clear: the cycle of violence should not become the new normal. He appealed to the government, civil society and all Nigerians to renew their commitment to building a secure, just and united country one where such tragedies are no longer inevitable.