Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed deep sorrow over the reported bombing in Zamfara State, describing the incident as heartbreaking and a grim reminder of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Obi said the latest attack came only days after a similar bombing in Borno State, at a time when families should have been living in peace and celebrating life.
“I have just received the heartbreaking news about the bombing in Zamfara a few hours ago. This tragic report comes just days after the bombing in Borno, at a time when families should have been gathered in peace, celebrating life and hope,” he said.
Obi noted that the incident fits into what he described as a troubling and recurring pattern of insecurity that has become disturbingly normal across the country, despite repeated assurances by the government.
“This incident is part of a troubling pattern of insecurity that has become far too normal across our country. What is most concerning is that these attacks continue despite repeated assurances from the government,” he stated.
He stressed that the protection of human life must once again become Nigeria’s foremost national priority, while also calling for urgent attention to the underlying socio-economic issues driving violence.
“The protection of human life must return to the forefront of our national priorities. We must also address the root causes that continue to fuel violence: poverty, unemployment, and the collapse of local economies and businesses,” Obi said.
According to him, insecurity thrives when citizens feel abandoned by leadership, warning that sustainable security cannot be achieved without economic productivity and inclusive growth.
“When people are abandoned by their leaders, desperation and crime thrive. A secure Nigeria cannot emerge without a productive Nigeria—one that creates opportunities, restores trust, and lifts citizens out of poverty,” he added.
The former Anambra State governor extended his condolences to the affected communities in Zamfara and Borno, saying their pain resonates with millions of Nigerians exhausted by recurring attacks.
“To the people of Zamfara and Borno, my deepest condolences go out to you all. Your grief is shared by millions of Nigerians who are weary of burying victims of terrorism that should have been contained long ago,” he said.
Obi concluded with a call for a shift from excuses to effective leadership, insisting that national progress is impossible when citizens live in fear.
“Nigeria must do better. We need to move away from excuses and embrace competence, compassion, and accountability. No country can progress when its citizens live in fear. We owe it to every Nigerian—both those who are alive today and those we have lost—to finally build a nation where life is valued and protected,” he said.
