Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised concerns over what he described as the growing normalisation of school abductions in Nigeria, warning that the country is becoming desensitised to a crisis that once united citizens and drew global attention.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Obi referenced the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, calling it a defining moment that sparked the international #BringBackOurGirls campaign and widespread public outrage.
“The abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014 triggered a global movement. One school abduction was enough to unite Nigerians, attract international attention, and place enormous pressure on the government,” he said.
Obi lamented that despite a rise in similar incidents over recent years, public reaction has weakened significantly. He claimed that Nigeria recorded about ten school abductions during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure, while over ten incidents have already occurred within three years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He questioned whether Nigerians had become accustomed to repeated tragedies that once provoked national outrage.
“Despite these repeated tragedies, there has been neither sustained national outrage nor significant international attention comparable to what followed Chibok,” he said, adding that this raises concerns about public desensitisation to insecurity.
The former Anambra State governor also criticised what he described as political leaders prioritising elections over urgent national challenges such as insecurity, poverty, and economic hardship.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with insecurity, poverty, and hardship, it is deeply troubling that those in power appear more focused on political calculations,” he stated.
Obi further noted that Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges have affected its international reputation, though he cautioned against defining the country solely by its difficulties. He described claims labelling Nigeria a “Now Disgraced Nation” as unfair, but acknowledged concerns about leadership failure and national image.
According to him, the solution lies in accountable and compassionate governance rather than political distraction.
“The answer is not denial, propaganda, or political distraction. The answer is leadership that is competent, compassionate, accountable, and genuinely committed to the welfare and security of the Nigerian people,” he said.
He urged young Nigerians to resist accepting insecurity as normal and to remain engaged in shaping the country’s future.
“Young Nigerians — Take back your country! A New Nigeria is Possible,” Obi said.
The remarks come amid ongoing national debate over insecurity, particularly school kidnappings that have persisted across several regions in recent years.
