The death of retired Major General Rape Abubakar while in a custody of kidnappers has renewed urgent calls for the Federal Government to overhaul its approach to nation’s worsening security situation, as fresh bandit attacks were reported in Sokoto and Kwara States.
Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who made the call while reacting to the incidents in a post on his X handle on Saturday, urged the government to move beyond public statements and implement a more concrete security strategy -one that is proactive, intelligence-driven, and technology based.
He also demanded that the government strengthen border security, improve intelligence gathering, better equip and incentivise security personnel, and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted.
“A nation where citizens live in fear cannot prosper. A nation where economic activities are disrupted daily by criminal elements cannot attract investment, create jobs, or guarantee a better future for its people,” Obi stated, echoing the frustrations of many Nigerians.
Retired General Rabe’s death has been widely described as a national tragedy and symbol of how far insecurity has spread across the country, reaching even those who devoted their lives to defending it.
“It is tragic that a man who served his fatherland with honour, rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and retired after years of meritorious service, would meet such a heartbreaking end at the hands of criminal elements,” Obi said. “His death is a sobering indictment of the insecurity that has engulfed our country.”
He said the death of the retired general was compounded by reports of insecurity in Sokoto and Kwara States. Noting that in Sokoto State, armed bandits allegedly blocked a market route and abducted traders.
Obi also mentioned that in Kwara, terrorists reportedly invaded communities, abducting scores of residents and killing innocent people.
The attacks have intensified fears that insecurity across Nigeria is not merely persisiting but actively expanding in both geographic reach and severity. Farmers are being cut off from farms, traders can no longer move goods freely, and entire communities are living under sustain threat.
Obi extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Major General Rabe Abubakar, his former colleagues in the Armed Forces, and all Nigerians who have lost loved ones to insecurity. He also sympathised with the families of those killed, those abducted, and the affected communities in Sokoto, Kwara, and across the nation.
“The recurring tragedies and embarrassing security failures we continue to witness make the quest for a New Nigeria not only necessary but inevitable. We must build a nation where every citizen can live, work, travel, and pursue legitimate economic activities without fear,” he noted.
