Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has reacted to reports alleging that scores of worshippers were abducted from churches in Kaduna State over the weekend.
In a statement shared on Tuesday, Obi said he was informed that about 172 worshippers were allegedly taken during attacks on churches in the state, describing the report as another troubling reflection of how insecurity has been allowed to grow unchecked across the country.
He noted that despite government and police authorities saying they are not aware of such an incident, the recurring pattern of mass abduction reports, conflicting figures and official denials raised questions about safety, leadership and national cohesion.
Obi said the country has continued to witness similar security challenges in parts of Benue, Zamfara, Kano, Niger and Plateau states, stressing that Nigeria is not officially at war yet appears to be recording victim figures and inconsistencies comparable to conflict zones.
He criticised what he described as misplaced priorities, arguing that a government capable of mobilising resources for propaganda, waste and foreign lobbyists should also be able to secure communities and protect lives.
Addressing residents of Kaduna, Obi expressed solidarity with the state and families whose loved ones were reportedly abducted, saying they were not alone.
He added that he hoped those allegedly taken would be found and returned safely, and that those injured would recover fully.
He further stated that if the reported abductions did not occur, it would be a relief, but if they did, relevant authorities must act swiftly and decisively.
“Nigeria deserves a government that treats human life as sacred,” Obi said, calling for urgent action to confront the country’s growing insecurity.
Recall that the Kaduna State Police Command and local authorities dismissed reports of a mass abduction of worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area, describing the claims as false and misleading.
Authorities said security operatives were deployed to the affected community after the reports emerged but found no evidence of any attack, warning that those spreading unverified information risk facing the law.