Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has described the reported mass abduction in Niger State’s Borgu Local Government Area as “one case too many” and demanded an immediate rescue operation for hundreds of residents allegedly seized by terrorists.
Obi’s reaction came after reports of attacks on communities in the area, including Dekara, where residents were reportedly targeted during Juma’at prayers. The scale of the alleged assault has stirred fresh concern over the ability of security agencies to protect vulnerable communities in remote parts of the country.
In a statement posted on his X account on Thursday, the former Anambra State governor said preliminary reports suggested that up to 600 people, mainly women, children, and elderly residents, had been taken captive.
About 30 people were also reportedly killed.
Obi, however, cautioned that the figures were still being verified.
“This is one case too many,” he said.
He added that the reports should “shake the conscience of every Nigerian and compel urgent action from government.”
The former governor expressed particular concern over the reported abduction of worshippers in daylight, saying Nigerians should be able to attend places of worship and return to their homes without living under the threat of armed attackers.
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He called for the deployment of what he termed “overwhelming intelligence-led security operations” to locate the captives, secure the affected settlements, and dismantle the criminal networks believed to be operating in the region.
“Government must treat this as an emergency: deploy overwhelming intelligence-led security operations, rescue every person in captivity, secure the affected communities and dismantle the networks and enclaves enabling these terrorists to operate,” Obi said.
The incident has also renewed debate over the relationship between insecurity and inadequate infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas.
Obi pointed to reports that difficult terrain and a collapsed bridge had slowed the initial security response in Borgu. He said the development reinforced his longstanding position that authorities should give greater attention to repairing existing infrastructure instead of concentrating excessively on new projects.
“The Police complain that difficult terrain and a collapsed bridge hampered the initial rescue response in Borgu, which supports my consistent plea to concentrate on repairs of existing infrastructure,” he said.
The significance of such infrastructure goes beyond transportation. Roads and bridges can determine how quickly security personnel, medical teams, and emergency responders reach a settlement under attack. When access routes fail, valuable time can be lost during a crisis.
Obi also used the incident to criticise the political focus on the 2027 elections while communities continue to face violent attacks.
“Our people are being left vulnerable while the political class appears increasingly consumed by the next election.
“Elections will come and go, but the lives of Nigerians cannot be recovered once lost,” he said.
His comments place the Borgu incident within a larger national debate over the priorities of government. With political activities already gathering momentum ahead of 2027, the former governor said the protection of citizens must take precedence over electoral calculations.
The reported assault has prompted renewed security concerns in Niger State, where difficult terrain and vast rural corridors can complicate surveillance and rapid intervention. President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to commence an immediate operation to rescue those abducted and provide updates on efforts to establish their whereabouts.
Obi expressed sympathy with the Niger State Government, residents of the affected communities and relatives of those reportedly abducted or killed.
“I stand with the Niger State Government, the good people of Niger State and the families of those abducted and killed.
“We must bring our people home and restore the confidence that government exists to protect them,” he said.
The precise number of people missing, killed or rescued will depend on the outcome of ongoing verification and security operations. Until authorities establish the full picture, the reported figure of 600 abductees should be treated as preliminary rather than confirmed.
For families waiting for news from Borgu, however, the uncertainty itself is a crisis.
Obi ended his statement with an expression of faith in the country’s future: “A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK.”
