Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged the government to declare war on insecurity in response to the increasing reports of kidnappings across the country.
In a statement on X.com on Saturday, Obi wrote, “When I say we should declare war on the economy, power, and insecurity, some people spin the narrative, while others complain. But what else can we do?
“In the last 24 hours, several people have been kidnapped across Nigeria, including about 20 dental students from Maiduguri and Jos in Benue State.
“An Anambra State Commissioner and his wife were abducted in Edo State, and others travelling with them were killed. These are just a few of the many tragic incidents happening across the country.”
“We cannot continue living like this,” Obi said. “It’s time for bold action, collective resolve, and a united front against these challenges.”
“We must declare war on this massive insecurity and other ills that threaten our society and work tirelessly to build a safer, more prosperous, and just society for all,” he added.
His outcry comes less than 24 hours after the kidnapping of Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Aghamba, and his wife.
Sources reported that an aide to the commissioner, identified as Kpajie ABK Offiah, an Onitsha youth and prominent member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was shot dead by the kidnappers while traveling with them.
Reports indicate that they were en route to Abuja for the wedding of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s daughter when they were kidnapped in the Kogi area.
Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to Governor Soludo, confirmed the incident but stated that the exact location of the kidnapping was still unclear, with both Ubiaja in Edo State and Kogi State being mentioned.
Aghamba, who was one of the 20 commissioners appointed by Governor Soludo in 2022, was abducted just hours after police reported the kidnapping of about 20 medical students in Benue State.
The students were traveling to Enugu State, passing through the Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue when they encountered bandits.
According to Sewuese Anene, the Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, the victims were en route to Enugu for a program when they encountered kidnappers around Otukpo.
The students were traveling in a convoy of two buses from the northern part of the country when they were ambushed on Thursday evening around 5:30 p.m.