Twelve years ago, the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok shook Nigeria to its core.
The outrage was immediate.
The grief was national.
The campaign was global.
From Abuja to Washington, from Lagos to London, the cry was the same: Bring Back Our Girls.
For months, the world watched.
The nation mourned.
The government came under intense pressure.
But today, another question is emerging.
What happened to that outrage?
What happened to that collective anger?
And perhaps most painfully, have Nigerians become so accustomed to tragedy that school abductions no longer shock the nation?
These are the troubling questions being raised by the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
“What Is Happening Should Trouble Every Nigerian”
In a strongly-worded statement released on Friday via his X account, Obi expressed deep concern over what he described as Nigeria’s worsening insecurity crisis.
The former Anambra State governor argued that the country appears to be witnessing an alarming rise in school abductions, yet the national response has become increasingly muted.
According to him, what once sparked nationwide outrage now barely generates sustained public attention.
And that, he warned, should worry every citizen.
Comparing Buhari And Tinubu Years
Obi drew a direct comparison between the administrations of former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, Nigeria recorded roughly ten school abductions during Buhari’s eight years in office.
However, he claimed that within just three years of the Tinubu administration, the country has already surpassed that figure.
For Obi, the statistics tell a disturbing story.
Not just about insecurity.
But about a nation gradually adjusting to what should never become normal.
When Tragedy Stops Making Headlines
Perhaps Obi’s strongest argument was not about the numbers.
It was about the silence.
He questioned why recent school kidnappings have failed to trigger the kind of national and international reaction that followed the Chibok tragedy.
Why are children still being taken from classrooms?
Why are parents still living in fear?
Why does the outrage seem weaker despite repeated attacks?
To Obi, the danger is not only the kidnappings themselves.
The greater danger may be society’s growing acceptance of them.
“Politicians Are Already Thinking About 2027”
The former governor also took aim at Nigeria’s political class.
According to him, while ordinary Nigerians battle insecurity, poverty and economic hardship, many politicians appear preoccupied with election calculations and power struggles ahead of 2027.
He suggested that political maneuvering has overshadowed urgent governance responsibilities.
For families worried about kidnappings, rising food prices and daily survival, political campaigns may feel like a luxury conversation.
A Reputation Under Pressure
Obi further lamented what he described as the damage insecurity and poor governance have done to Nigeria’s international reputation.
While rejecting attempts to permanently define Nigeria by its current struggles, he acknowledged that persistent insecurity and economic hardship have weakened the country’s global image.
According to him, the solution is neither denial nor political propaganda.
Instead, he argued that Nigeria needs leadership focused on competence, accountability, compassion and results.
A Message To Nigerian Youths
As his statement drew to a close, Obi directed his strongest appeal to young Nigerians.
He urged them not to become indifferent to the country’s challenges.
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He warned against accepting failure as normal and encouraged citizens to remain engaged in shaping Nigeria’s future.
His message was simple but familiar: Nigeria can change.
But only if Nigerians refuse to stop demanding better.
Difficult Questions
Beyond politics, beyond parties and beyond election cycles, Obi’s comments leave Nigeria with a difficult question.
When a school abduction no longer shocks us, what does that say about the state of the nation?
Because while governments may change and politicians may come and go, the true measure of any country is whether it can protect its children.
And for many Nigerians today, that remains an unanswered question.