By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has raised pointed questions over the credibility of official responses to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity following confirmation that over 150 worshippers were abducted from churches in Kaduna State.
In a strongly worded remarks on his X handle account on Wednesday(today), Obi queried the source of information relied upon by those who initially dismissed reports of the mass kidnapping as false. “Since it has now been confirmed that over 150 worshippers were kidnapped from churches in Kaduna, where and how did those who denied the incident initially get their information?” he asked.
Obi also turned the spotlight on government officials and allies who had threatened sanctions against individuals accused of spreading what they described as misinformation.
“And since those who denied threatened to punish the people said to be spreading falsehood, who now face the punishment?” he queried.
The former Anambra governor’s remarks come amid public backlash against earlier denials by some government figures and supporters. Among them was Daniel Bwala, a presidential aide, who had previously downplayed reports of mass abductions and broader persecution narratives.
In an earlier television appearance, Bwala had warned against what he described as exaggerated claims, stating: “The so-called ‘Christian genocide’ narrative is a fabrication designed to mislead the public and attract foreign intervention.”
Similarly, government-linked voices had cautioned that individuals circulating unverified security reports could be prosecuted, insisting that some of the initial accounts were inaccurate or alarmist. With the confirmation of the Kaduna abductions, Obi said the episode exposed a deeper leadership failure.
According to him, “In any serious country, this would trigger decisive national action, clear communication, and visible leadership. Leadership is not only about grabbing power; it is about presence.”
He stressed that true leadership requires speaking up when citizens are in pain and acting decisively when lives are at risk. “It is about speaking when citizens are hurting, acting when lives are at risk, and showing clearly that every Nigerian life matters,” Obi said.
Calling for urgent action, Obi urged authorities to prioritise the safe and unconditional release of all abducted worshippers and to confront the nation’s insecurity crisis with renewed seriousness.
“We must act now to ensure that all victims are released safely and unharmed, and to continue confronting decisively this persistent crisis of insecurity in our nation. Enough is enough,” he declared.
Precise Post recalls that the church kidnappings in Kaduna State involving more than 150 worshippers occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when armed gunmen stormed multiple churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area during worship services.
