The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has alleged that more than 1,000 Nigerians were killed and thousands abducted between January and February 2026.
Obi made the claim in a post on his X account on Sunday, March 1, describing the level of violence across the country as worse than in some nations officially at war. He criticised what he termed the “politics of zero humanity,” accusing political leaders of focusing on permutations for the 2027 elections instead of prioritising citizens’ safety.
According to him, while politicians are preoccupied with strategies for the next general election, communities across several states are grappling with killings, kidnappings and widespread insecurity.
He said states including Zamfara, Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa and Plateau have recorded deadly attacks in the first two months of the year, leaving families mourning and many communities living in fear.
Obi argued that in more than 25 states across all geopolitical zones, there have been major incidents involving armed bandits, mass shootings, village raids and attacks on worshippers and travellers. He said the scale of bloodshed within two months was alarming and deserved greater national urgency.
He lamented that political debates around zoning arrangements, party structures and campaign strategies were dominating public discourse while citizens were being buried.
Referencing recent attacks in Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State, Obi said he watched grieving families lay their loved ones to rest while political conversations remained centred on future elections.
He stressed that leadership should be defined by the protection of lives rather than electoral victories, urging leaders to place human life at the centre of national priorities.
Obi concluded by calling on political actors to put Nigerians first, insisting that history would judge leaders not by their campaign strategies but by how they responded when citizens were under threat.
