The abduction of innocent candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue State has triggered widespread outrage across the country, with former presidential candidate Peter Obi condemning the incident as a clear sign of leadership failure and worsening insecurity.
Reacting to the development, Obi described the attack as “heartbreaking” and a “damning indictment” of Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that young Nigerians pursuing education are increasingly being exposed to violence instead of protection.
He lamented the already low number of tertiary graduates in the country, estimated at about one percent, stressing that Nigeria cannot afford to lose more students to insecurity. According to him, the situation reflects a dangerous trend where educational advancement is being undermined by persistent threats to safety.
Obi further criticized those in positions of authority, accusing them of prioritizing political ambitions ahead of national security. He argued that the same level of coordination and resources allegedly deployed during elections should be directed toward securing lives, protecting roads, and ensuring the safe return of abducted students.
Describing the incident as part of a growing pattern rather than an isolated case, Obi warned that Nigeria is facing a full-blown national crisis that requires urgent and decisive action.
“This is not the time for excuses or silence. What is needed is leadership that matches the scale of this emergency,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor concluded by emphasizing that a nation that fails to protect its youth risks jeopardizing its future, reiterating his belief that “a new Nigeria is possible.”
