Summary: Labour Party’s Peter Obi condemns Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, alleging over 1,000 deaths in early 2026 while politicians focus on 2027 elections instead of citizens’ safety.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised a disturbing alarm about the deteriorating security situation across Nigeria, claiming that more than 1,000 Nigerians have lost their lives between January and February 2026, with thousands more abducted during the same period.
The 2023 presidential candidate took to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, March 1, to express his frustration over what he described as a national tragedy unfolding while political leaders remain preoccupied with the 2027 general elections.
“We’re Sharing Funeral Programs While Debating Power Sharing”
In a lengthy and emotionally charged statement, Obi painted a grim picture of a nation bleeding from relentless attacks across multiple states. According to him, the level of violence Nigeria has experienced in just two months rivals—and even exceeds—casualty figures from countries currently engaged in active warfare.
“It is profoundly disturbing that while we, the politicians, continue to obsess over the 2027 elections—spending our energy scheming about how to capture, grab, and run the next election—the first two months of 2026 have reportedly seen the killing of over 1,000 Nigerians and the abduction of several thousand others,” Obi wrote.
The former Anambra State governor listed affected states including Zamfara, Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa, and Plateau, noting that families have been forced to bury loved ones while entire communities live in perpetual fear.
Over 25 States Under Attack
Obi revealed that major violent incidents have been recorded in over 25 states across all six geopolitical zones within the first two months of the year alone. These attacks include kidnappings by armed bandits, mass shootings, village invasions, and assaults on worshippers and travellers.
“We debate power sharing while citizens are sharing funeral programs,” he lamented, highlighting the disconnect between political priorities and the daily reality facing ordinary Nigerians.
Plateau Attack: A Nation’s Tears Ignored
The Labour Party chieftain disclosed that he was moved to tears watching families in the Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State bury their dead following terrorist attacks. However, he observed that Nigerian media and political leaders remained largely focused on party politics and electoral strategies rather than addressing the bloodshed.
“I watched in tears yesterday as families in the Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State buried their dead after attacks by armed terrorists, but our media and leaders were focused on discussions about party issues and the 2027 elections, when we aren’t even sure we will be alive to see it, given all the deaths happening in our country today,” Obi stated.
“Politics of Zero Humanity”
Peter Obi didn’t mince words in his criticism of what he termed the “politics of zero humanity” currently prevalent in Nigeria. He accused political leaders of prioritizing election calculations over the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens.
“We strategise about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026. This is inhumane,” he declared.
The businessman-turned-politician called for a fundamental shift in national priorities, arguing that human life must be elevated to sacred status in governance discussions.
A Call for Leadership Beyond Elections
“Leadership is not about winning elections; it is about saving lives,” Obi emphasized, challenging Nigerian leaders to aspire toward a nation free from bloodshed—where governance is measured by citizens’ safety and dignity rather than political dominance.
He warned that history would not judge leaders by their electoral strategies but by whether they acted decisively when Nigerians were dying.
“History will not remember how many strategies we perfected for 2027; it will remember whether we acted when Nigerians were dying. We must choose Nigerian lives over politics. We must put Nigerians first,” Obi concluded.
The Reality of Nigeria’s Security Crisis
While independent verification of Obi’s specific casualty figures remains ongoing, there’s no denying that Nigeria has faced a sustained security crisis affecting multiple regions. From banditry in the Northwest to herder-farmer conflicts in the Middle Belt, insurgency in the Northeast, and kidnapping rings operating across the country, insecurity remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
Peter Obi’s statement adds to growing calls from various quarters for the government to prioritize security and implement more effective strategies to protect Nigerian lives and property.
As the former presidential candidate signed off with his familiar tagline—”A New Nigeria is POssible”—his message serves as both a rebuke and a rallying cry for leaders to refocus their energies on the urgent task of securing the nation.
The question remains: Will Nigeria’s political class heed this call, or will the focus on 2027 continue to overshadow the pressing security emergencies of 2026?
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