Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to decisively identify and eliminate the bandits terrorising the country, warning that if the government fails to act, Nigerians are within their rights to seek help externally.
Obasanjo made this remark on Friday, November 28, while speaking at the Plateau Unity Christmas and Praise Festival, where he addressed a large audience on the growing wave of insecurity affecting many parts of the country.
Obasanjo criticizes killings of Nigerians
He lamented that Nigerians across regions and religions continue to be killed while the government appears unable to fully protect its citizens, describing the ongoing violence as “nonsensical” and heartbreaking.
The former leader said it was unacceptable that ordinary citizens could no longer travel freely or sleep with peace of mind, stressing that the primary duty of any government is to safeguard the lives and property of its people.
“We are part of the world community. If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us. If we are being k!lled, it is the responsibility of the government to do something about it.
We should ask the government to do what it has to do at all levels. We should ask our leaders to do what they have to do at all levels, in all walks of life,” he said
Obasanjo further explained that Nigeria cannot continue to handle insecurity with half-measures and delayed actions, noting that the lives being lost daily represent families destroyed and futures cut short.
The former President noted that with modern technology, especially drones, the world has advanced to a point where perpetrators of crime can be tracked and captured anywhere, emphasising that such capabilities were not available during his own administration.
“In these days of technology, there should be nobody hiding anywhere after he has committed a crime that cannot be seen with the present-day satellite,” he added.
He argued that criminals now operate freely because they believe they are untouchable, adding that the right use of technology would send a strong message that crime no longer pays.
Obasanjo also questioned the logic behind negotiating with criminal groups and paying them, saying such actions embolden wrongdoers rather than resolve insecurity.
“Before I left government, I knew we had the capacity to pick up anybody in Nigeria. The capacity we didn’t have then was that, after we had identified and located such a criminal, we didn’t have the capacity to pick him up without moving on land or by air. Now we have the capacity with drones. You can take them out. Why are we not doing that? Why are we negotiating? And after government has paid these criminals, government denies!
We should appeal to our government to do what needs to be done to stop Nigerians being killed.
He warned that continued inaction could push citizens into desperation and loss of confidence in leadership, a situation he said could endanger national unity.
We are tired of being killed, and we want the killing of Nigerians, whether they are Christians or Muslims or pagans, they are Nigerians, and the life of every Nigerian matters. It should stop,” he maintained.
Obasanjo concluded by urging leaders at all levels to rise above politics and personal interests and focus on restoring peace, insisting that only firm action and accountability can bring lasting security back to the country.