Peter Obi Urges Tinubu to Act as Arrested Bandit Fingers ‘Kwara Govt’ In Arms Supply

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to a viral video showing arrested bandits in Kwara State alleging that government officials supplied them with arms and logistics.

The suspected bandits were apprehended by troops of the Nigerian Army during a security operation in Kwara State. In the video, which has circulated widely online, the suspects claimed that their weapons and vehicle were provided by government officials.

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Reacting to the development, Obi described the allegations as deeply disturbing and called for urgent action.

Ejes Gist News reports that Obi made the call in a statement titled “Insecurity and the Crisis of Accountability in Nigeria.”

Obi Demands Independent Investigation

Peter Obi said the claims made by the arrested suspects require an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation, stressing that the matter goes beyond routine security concerns.

“Yesterday, a disturbing video emerged from Kwara State in which suspected terrorists arrested by security forces claimed that ammunition and logistics were supplied to them by government officials,” Obi said.

He added that such allegations, now widely circulated, cannot be ignored by any responsible government.

Rising Insecurity and Accountability Questions

According to Obi, Nigeria’s security challenges have continued to worsen despite massive public spending on defence and internal security.

“Over the years, trillions of naira and billions of dollars have been continuously collected by the government in the name of security. Yet insecurity has only expanded across the country, and in an increasingly brazen manner,” he stated.

He argued that the persistence of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism raises fundamental questions about accountability within the system.

Obi Cites Abacha, Obasanjo on Insurgency

In his statement, Obi referenced remarks previously made by former military head of state, General Sani Abacha, who once suggested that prolonged insurgency often indicates government involvement.

He also quoted former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had questioned why Nigeria, despite having advanced technology, still negotiates with terrorists instead of tracking and eliminating them.

“Before I left office, Nigeria could identify and locate anyone who committed any crime anywhere in the country,” Obi quoted Obasanjo as saying. “Today, with technology such as drones and improved tracking tools, we can easily locate and remove them. But we are not doing that.”

Use of Security Infrastructure Questioned

Obi further recalled that between 2010 and 2015, Nigeria invested heavily in modern police communication and tracking infrastructure designed to monitor criminal movements and improve rapid response.

He questioned why such systems are no longer visible in current counter-terrorism efforts.

“We must therefore begin to ask: Where are these pieces of equipment, and why are they not being used?” Obi asked.

He also queried why confessions by arrested terrorists often implicate government officials.

Concerns Over Abductions and Rescue Operations

The former governor expressed concern over recent mass abductions, citing the release of students from St. Mary’s Catholic School while noting that many victims remain in captivity.

He criticised what he described as celebratory responses without accountability.

“No terrorist was arrested, no punishment announced, and, to this day, no clear update has been given on the more than 200 children and teachers still in captivity,” Obi said.

He questioned why existing technology has not been deployed to track the perpetrators and rescue the remaining victims.

“Insecurity Points to Complicity or Leadership Failure”

Obi warned that the continued scale of insecurity suggests either complicity or a failure of leadership, both of which he said are unacceptable.

“When insecurity persists on this scale, day after day, it points either to complicity or to a failure of leadership. No society should accept either,” he said.

He stressed that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property, insisting that a government that prioritises human life must decisively eliminate insecurity.

Call for Competent Leadership

Concluding his statement, Obi called for leadership rooted in competence, transparency, and capacity, arguing that Nigeria’s security crisis can only end through accountable governance and decisive action.

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“A government that truly makes human life a priority does not pamper insecurity; it eliminates it,” he said.

The allegations by the arrested bandits and Obi’s response have intensified public debate on security governance and accountability in Nigeria, with calls growing louder for thorough investigations into the claims.