How did we get to a point where Nigerians are taking instructions from terrorists instead of their government – Peter Obi reacts to reports terrorists are issuing orders to communities

Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, has said that Nigerians deserve to live in peace, not at the mercy of terror. 

Obi said this in reaction to reports that terrorists are issuing orders for citizens to flee their ancestral homes. 

In a post on his verified X handle on Sunday, March 22, Obi lamented what he described as “a breakdown of governance and humanity”. 

He wrote: “What we are witnessing in Borgaja and other communities in Sokoto State, and indeed across our country, is tragic. It reflects a complete breakdown of governance and humanity. 

“Reports that terrorists can issue orders for citizens to flee their ancestral homes without consequence are both heartbreaking and unacceptable. It means that in parts of our country today, non-state actors have assumed the authority of the state—deciding who lives where and under what conditions. 

“This is not how a nation should function. How did we get to a point where Nigerians are taking instructions from terrorists instead of their government? I have consistently maintained that no nation can progress when its people live in fear. 

“This is no longer just a security issue; it is a national emergency. The primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. Nigerians deserve to live in peace, not at the mercy of terror.”