‘Nigeria Bleeding,’ Obi Slams President Tinubu as Killings Persist Days After Security Assurances
The former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the persistent insecurity in parts of the country, including Jos, the capital of Plateau State.
ThelensNG reports that following attack by gunmen in Angwan Rukuba, which led to several deaths and left many others injured on March 29, President Tinubu visited Jos on April 2, addressing families of victims at the airport.
During the visit, the President pledged that such an incident would not happen again. However, his address was met with backlash from many Nigerians, including notable personalities.
Barely 24 hours after Tinubu’s visit, another attack by gunmen occurred, resulting in further loss of lives. The renewed violence has sparked reactions from Nigerians, many of whom described the President’s assurances as empty promises.
Reacting in a statement on Monday, Obi lamented: “Less than 24 hours after President Tinubu stood at the Jos Plateau State airport on April 2, 2026, and promised the grieving Nigerian citizens, ‘I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself’, another brutal attack occurred in Nyamgo Gyel, Jos South LGA, resulting in the deaths of several innocent citizens.”
He also noted that since the President’s reassurance, Nasarawa State has been plunged into grief, as residents of the Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities fled for their lives after gunmen killed at least 11 people.
“Many homes were reduced to ashes, and numerous families remain missing,” he decried, highlighting that in Zamfara State, about 150 people were abducted from the Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji communities in what he described as one of the largest mass kidnappings in recent times.
Obi stressed that on the same day, terrorists in Borno State stormed Chibok, killing four officers and burning homes.
“Yesterday, on Easter Sunday, Benue State was rocked by violence again, with over 17 Nigerians massacred, entire communities left in ruins, and many individuals still unaccounted for. Today, in Kaduna State, several innocent citizens were killed by terrorists inside churches, with many others abducted in the Ariko community of Kachia LGA,” he added.
Obi described Tinubu’s statement that “this experience will not repeat itself” as a failure of leadership and responsibility, expressing sadness that Nigerians are paying for it with their lives.
He equally argued that the attackers are not invisible, stating that the authorities’ inaction has emboldened them.
“How can a President make such a categorical promise and, mere hours later, the nation continues to count the dead across multiple states?” he asked, emphasising that the primary responsibility of any government is to protect lives and property.
Obi further lamented that this responsibility is failing, with Nigerians being killed in their homes, communities, and even places where they should feel safest.
“Even the President did not enter these communities, so who is truly safe in Nigeria?” he questioned, describing the situation as a national emergency.
“Nigeria is bleeding, and the situation is worsening and increasingly helpless,” he added.
