Obi blasts FG over terrorists forcing Sokoto residents to flee ancestral homes

Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over worsening insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, warning that the country is witnessing a “complete breakdown of governance and humanity.”

In a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, Obi cited reports from Borgaja and other communities in Sokoto State, where terrorists allegedly ordered residents to abandon their ancestral homes.

“What we are witnessing in Borgaja and other communities in Sokoto State, and indeed across our country, is tragic. It reflects a complete breakdown of governance and humanity,” he said.

Obi described as “heartbreaking and unacceptable” claims that non-state actors now wield authority over citizens in certain areas, dictating where people can live and under what conditions.

“Reports that terrorists can issue orders for citizens to flee their ancestral homes without consequence are both heartbreaking and unacceptable. It means that in parts of our country today, non-state actors have assumed the authority of the state—deciding who lives where and under what conditions,” he stated.

The former presidential candidate questioned how Nigeria reached a stage where citizens appear to take directives from terrorists rather than constituted authorities.

“This is not how a nation should function. How did we get to a point where Nigerians are taking instructions from terrorists instead of their government?” He asked.

Obi warned that the situation has gone beyond routine security challenges, describing it as a full-blown national emergency that requires urgent and decisive action.

“This is no longer just a security issue; it is a national emergency. The primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. Nigerians deserve to live in peace, not at the mercy of terror,” he added.

Reiterating his long-held position, Obi stressed that no country can achieve meaningful development when its citizens are gripped by fear.