Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, has condemned the killing of Alhaji Muhammad Isa Bawa, the abducted Emir of Gobir, by his abductors.
Chronicle NG reports that Alhaji Muhammad Isa Bawa, the abducted district chief of Gatawa in Sokoto State’s Sabon Birni Local Government Area, was killed in captivity by bandits.
On Wednesday, August 21, 2023, a family member announced his death, alleging a failure to pay the bandits’ ransom demand.
The monarch was kidnapped together with his son and six others on the Sokoto-Sabon Birni Road 25 days ago and has since been held hostage by his captors.
In a statement on Wednesday, Obi lamented the killing of the Emir and the prevalence of kidnapping in the country, urging the Federal Government to take decisive action.
Obi said, “I’m still reeling from the shocking news of the tragic murder of the Emir of Gobir, my earlier message reflected my deep sorrow and dismay. Yet, even those words now feel insufficient to convey the weight of one’s feeling of tragic loss.
“This most recent atrocity marks the tipping point in the decline of a failing state. The fact that, according to widely circulated reports, the terrorists returned to the emir’s domain, abducted 150 innocent people, and stole 1,000 cattle after his brutal murder serves as a grim indication of the continued collapse of our national security infrastructure.
“We are now at the mercy of terrorists and bandits, with a nearly ineffective government to protect us. This is not just a tragedy, but a national emergency,” Obi said.
The former governor of Anambra State urged the government to take decisive action against terrorists in the country.
“We demand decisive action, not empty rhetoric, to confront this crisis. This is why I strongly advocate for a declaration of war on insecurity, the food crisis, and poverty—a stance that some have twisted, distorted, and used for their agendas.
“It’s time for us to take collective responsibility. We cannot stand by as our nation deteriorates to this unacceptable level. We must revive our commitment to the safety and security of all Nigerians. Enough must now be enough,” Obi added.
