Peter Obi Reacts to Kogi School Abduction, Warns of Growing Security Crisis

(Peter Obi. Photo by Sky News)

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the abduction of a school principal, students, and a National Examinations Council, NECO, official during an examination in Kogi State, calling it a troubling sign of the country’s deteriorating security situation. 

In a statement shared on his official social media page on Wednesday, Obi said the attack, which took place while students were writing their NECO exams, underscores the growing danger facing schools and the education sector, warning that insecurity continues to threaten the nation’s future.

The former Anambra State governor argued that schools should remain spaces of learning and hope rather than targets for criminal activity, describing news of the abduction as both heartbreaking and deeply troubling.

He lamented that children can no longer attend school, study, or sit for national exams without fear of violence, calling it a stark illustration of how deeply insecurity has eroded the safety of educational institutions and citizens alike.

He urged security agencies to intensify efforts toward securing the safe and unconditional release of the victims, calling on them to deploy every available resource to that end.

He also appealed to all levels of government to bolster security around schools to prevent similar occurrences and restore public trust in the education system, stressing that schools must symbolise hope rather than fear or uncertainty.

Obi extended his sympathies to the families of those abducted, the affected school community, and residents of Kogi State, insisting that such attacks on schools must never be allowed to become normalised.

He warned that a nation unable to guarantee the safety of its children is jeopardising its own future.