Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians not to become indifferent to insecurity, school abductions, and other violent crimes across the country.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Obi compared the national response to the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, with reactions to subsequent mass kidnappings, noting that repeated attacks on schools have not attracted the same level of public outrage.

According to him, the Chibok abduction sparked a global campaign and placed significant pressure on the government through the #BringBackOurGirls movement.

“The abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014 triggered a global movement. One school abduction was enough to unite Nigerians, attract international attention, and place enormous pressure on the government,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor stated that Nigeria recorded about 10 school abductions during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and has witnessed more than 10 additional incidents under President Bola Tinubu.

“Despite these repeated tragedies, there has been neither sustained national outrage nor significant international attention comparable to what followed Chibok,” he said.

Obi questioned whether Nigerians had become accustomed to insecurity to the extent that incidents that once shocked the nation were now being treated as routine occurrences.

He also criticised political leaders for focusing on electoral calculations while many citizens continue to face insecurity, poverty, and economic hardship.

“At a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with insecurity, poverty, and hardship, it is deeply troubling that those in power appear more focused on political calculations and preparations for the next election than on addressing the urgent challenges confronting our people,” he said.

Obi further stated that the country’s challenges have affected Nigeria’s international image and called for leadership that is competent, accountable, and committed to the welfare and security of citizens.

He urged young Nigerians to remain engaged in national issues and resist complacency in the face of the country’s challenges.

“The Nigerian youth must not become indifferent. We must all refuse to normalise failure. Young Nigerians — take back your country. A new Nigeria is possible,” he said.

His comments come amid recent incidents of abduction across parts of the country. Last month, gunmen reportedly abducted the principal and several students of a secondary school in Ahoro-Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The incident occurred weeks after suspected terrorists attacked travellers along the Ibadan-Ijebu Road in a failed kidnap attempt that left one person dead.