Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called for an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into allegations by suspected terrorists in Kwara State who claimed that ammunition and logistics were supplied to them by government officials.
Obi made the call in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, following the circulation of a disturbing video showing arrested suspects making the claims.
“The allegation, now circulating widely, demands nothing less than an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation,” Obi said, warning that such claims strike at the heart of Nigeria’s security crisis.
He lamented that despite “trillions of naira and billions of dollars” spent on security over the years, insecurity has continued to worsen across the country, spreading in both scale and audacity.
According to him, the development lends credibility to a long-cited remark attributed to late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, that “any insurgency that lasts more than 24 hours, the government is involved.”
Obi also referenced former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had questioned the government’s handling of terrorism despite advances in technology.
“Before I left office, Nigeria could identify and locate anyone who committed any crime anywhere in the country,” Obi quoted Obasanjo as saying.
He added, “Today, with technology such as drones and improved tracking tools, we can easily locate and remove them. But we are not doing that. Why are we negotiating with terrorists?”
The former Anambra State governor argued that the continued rise in kidnapping, banditry and terrorism raises serious questions about accountability, given that the government controls telecommunications, intelligence systems and financial tracking mechanisms.
He recalled that between 2010 and 2015, Nigeria invested heavily in advanced police communication and tracking infrastructure designed to monitor criminal movements and terrorist communications.
He said, “The government controls telecommunications, intelligence systems, and even financial trails, yet kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism continue to thrive. This reality raises serious questions for those in power.
“Between 2010 and 2015, under President Jonathan, Nigeria built one of the most advanced police communication and tracking infrastructures in its history. These systems were specifically designed to track criminal movements, particularly those of terrorists, monitor communications, and facilitate rapid response.”
“We must therefore begin to ask: Where are these pieces of equipment, and why are they not being used?” Obi asked. “Why do terrorists’ confessions so often implicate government officials?”
Citing recent events, Obi expressed concern over the handling of mass abductions, including the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School, where about 100 children were released days ago.
“Government officials celebrated, yet no terrorist was arrested, no punishment announced, and, to this day, no clear update has been given on the more than 200 children and teachers still in captivity,” he said.
He questioned why existing surveillance and tracking tools have not been deployed to rescue the remaining victims and dismantle terrorist networks.
“When insecurity persists on this scale, day after day, it points either to complicity or to a failure of leadership,” Obi stated. “No society should accept either.”
Emphasising the core duty of government, Obi said, “A government that truly makes human life a priority does not pamper insecurity; it eliminates it. The foremost responsibility of any government is the protection of life and property.”
He concluded by reiterating his call for accountable and competent leadership, saying Nigeria needs “leaders of competence, transparency, and capacity — leaders who will end this insecurity once and for all.”
