The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has voiced strong condemnation regarding the tragic death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was held captive by kidnappers. Obi described the incident as a stark reflection of the worsening security crisis plaguing the nation.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle late Saturday, Obi expressed deep sorrow, noting that a distinguished military officer who served the country with honor and rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Armed Forces should not have met such a heartbreaking fate at the hands of criminals.
The former Anambra governor termed Abubakar’s death a national tragedy and a sobering reminder of the pervasive insecurity. He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to move beyond mere rhetoric and adopt a more proactive, intelligence-led, technology-driven, and coordinated approach to combat insecurity.
Obi stated, “Nigeria cannot continue like this. I received with deep shock and sadness the tragic death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar. Earlier, I also received disturbing reports of renewed bandit attacks in Sokoto and Kwara States.”
He emphasized that the kidnapping of traders on a market route in Sokoto and the invasion of communities in Kwara, where many were abducted and innocent lives lost, are deeply alarming. These incidents, he noted, are not isolated tragedies but part of a broader pattern of escalating violence.
Obi remarked, “When traders cannot travel safely to markets, farmers cannot access their farms, communities live under constant fear, and even retired senior military officers are not spared from kidnapping, it is evident that our nation faces a grave security emergency.”
He further stressed that security remains the foremost responsibility of any government. Every life lost, every citizen abducted, and every community displaced represents a painful failure of the collective duty to protect Nigerians. The recurring attacks in Sokoto, Kwara, and other parts of the country demonstrate that insecurity is not only persisting but expanding in scope and intensity.