The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the increasing wave of school abductions in Nigeria, warning that the country risks becoming desensitised to a crisis that once united citizens and drew global condemnation.
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In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Obi reflected on the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, noting that the incident sparked nationwide outrage and attracted international attention through the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
According to him, the Chibok tragedy became a defining moment in Nigeria’s security history, but subsequent school kidnappings have failed to generate the same level of public reaction despite their frequency.
Obi observed that during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the country recorded several school abductions, while more incidents have continued to occur under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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He questioned why repeated attacks on schoolchildren no longer attract sustained public outrage or significant international attention.
“This raises an important question: have we become so accustomed to insecurity that what once shocked our national conscience is now treated as normal?” Obi stated.
Obi also criticised what he described as the growing focus on political calculations and future elections at a time when many Nigerians are battling insecurity, poverty and economic hardship.
According to him, the country’s challenges require urgent attention from leaders rather than political distractions.
While acknowledging that Nigeria should not be defined solely by its present difficulties, Obi said persistent insecurity, economic struggles and governance failures have negatively affected the nation’s image and standing in the international community.
He maintained that the solution lies in leadership that is competent, compassionate and accountable to the people.
“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.
Obi further called on young Nigerians to remain engaged in national issues and resist becoming accustomed to poor governance and insecurity.
“The Nigerian youth must not become indifferent. We must all refuse to normalise failure,” he added.
His comments come amid renewed concerns over the safety of schools following recent reports of kidnappings involving students and teachers in parts of the country.
