Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, warning that the country is under severe threat and urging the government to take decisive action to protect citizens.
Obasanjo spoke on Tuesday in Jos during the second edition of the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol at the Ten Commandments Prayer Altar. He described the level of insecurity as unacceptable, noting that the crisis did not start with the current administration or the one before it.
According to him, the situation has deteriorated steadily since the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, with violent crimes continuing to escalate across the country. He also condemned attempts to justify killings based on ethnic or religious identity, describing such explanations as dangerous.
The former president stressed that the primary duty of any government is to ensure the safety of its people, adding that authorities at all levels must live up to this constitutional responsibility. He warned that Nigerians may be forced to seek international intervention if the government fails to secure lives and property.
Obasanjo further questioned why security agencies were not fully deploying modern technology to combat crime, noting that available tools such as drones and tracking systems could help locate and neutralise criminal elements.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, said the Unity Christmas Carol symbolises the state’s commitment to healing and unity after years of conflict. He emphasised that internal cohesion was crucial for development and lasting peace.
Mutfwang called on residents to abandon divisive tendencies and embrace unity, saying collective harmony is key to confronting insecurity in the state.
The Plateau Unity Christmas Carol, introduced last year, is designed as a three-day worship festival aimed at fostering reconciliation across ethnic, religious and political lines.
