Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has said Nigerians deserve to live in peace, not under the threat of terror, as insecurity worsens across the country.
In a post on his verified X account on Sunday, Obi said the security situation represents a tragic failure of both governance and basic humanity.
Responding to reports from Borgaja and other communities in Sokoto State, where terrorists reportedly told residents to leave their lands, the former Anambra State governor described the situation as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”
He said the development indicates that in some parts of Nigeria, non-state actors have effectively taken over the role of the state, deciding who can live in certain places and under what circumstances.
“What we are witnessing in Borgaja and other communities in Sokoto State, and indeed across our country, is tragic. It reflects a complete breakdown of governance and humanity.
“This is not how a nation should function. How did we get to a point where Nigerians are taking instructions from terrorists instead of their government? I have consistently maintained that no nation can progress when its people live in fear.
“This is no longer just a security issue; it is a national emergency. The primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. Nigerians deserve to live in peace, not at the mercy of terror,” he wrote.
His remarks come amid renewed reports of violence in eastern Sokoto.
Report online states that fighters loyal to Turji attacked Bargaja town on March 15, killing at least two villagers and forcing many others to flee.
Earlier in January 2026, gunmen invaded Bargaja, killing two people and abducting several others.
Before that, security sources and residents said Bargaja had been attacked a few days earlier, pointing to repeated assaults in the area along the Sokoto–Zamfara axis.
