DISRUPTION OF WORSHIP CENTRES NOW A NATIONAL CALAMITY": PETER OBI CONDEMNS ENUGU CHURCH ABDUCTION, CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE UNITY

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep dismay over the recent abduction of a seminarian and worshippers at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa, Enugu State, describing attacks on religious gatherings as a national calamity.

​In an official public statement, Obi lamented that citizens seeking peace and solace in sacred spaces continue to fall victim to criminal elements, warning that terror attacks on religious institutions are no longer confined to specific regions but have spread across the entire federation.

​"I have been deeply dismayed by the recent news concerning the abduction of worshippers in Enugu. It is profoundly distressing that fellow Nigerians, who had come together in divine worship seeking solace and hope, have endured such a traumatic and criminal ordeal. It is increasingly clear that this is no longer an isolated incident... It has escalated into a national crisis, threatening every Nigerian."

​Key Points from Peter Obi's Statement

​Escalation to National Emergency: Obi noted that insecurity has expanded beyond states like Borno, Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, or Katsina, warning that no citizen should live in fear while attending service, working, studying, or resting at home.

​Non-Partisan National Response: Emphasizing that national defense transcends political, tribal, or religious lines, he urged leaders and security agencies to treat the crisis as a collective duty requiring immediate, decisive action.

​Call for Swift Rescue Operations: Obi called on security forces to deploy all necessary assets to secure the safe return of the abducted victims in Enugu and bring the perpetrators to justice.

​Sanctity of Human Life: Reaffirming that the protection of human life is the primary obligation of governance, Obi urged Nigerians to reject violence as a "new normal," maintaining that "a new Nigeria remains possible with God on our side."