TDFormer presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi has condemned the abduction of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates in Benue State.
Mr. Obi described the incident as a “damning indictment of leadership failure and the collapse of security” in Nigeria.
Obi made the pronouncement in a statement posted on his official X account on Friday.
He said the kidnapping of young Nigerians striving for education highlights the worsening insecurity across the country and the neglect of the nation’s youth.
“The news of the abduction of innocent UTME candidates in Benue State is not just heartbreaking but a damning indictment of the failure of leadership and the collapse of security in our nation,” Obi wrote.
He lamented that Nigeria already has one of the lowest shares of tertiary graduates globally — about 1% — compared to countries like Indonesia (13%) and South Africa (10%).
“We cannot afford to lose even one more student to violence,” he added.
Criticism of Leadership
Obi accused those in power of focusing more on electoral politics than on protecting citizens.
“Those entrusted with protecting these young students appear increasingly preoccupied with the next election, projecting strength and power to rig elections, rather than deploying that same power and agencies to secure our roads, prevent these crimes, and rescue the abducted children,” he said.
He stressed that the abductions are no longer isolated tragedies but part of a recurring pattern of insecurity.
“This is a national crisis.
“And it demands urgent, decisive, and responsible action, not excuses, not silence, but leadership that matches the scale of the emergency this deserves,” Obi declared.
Broader Implications
The abduction of UTME candidates has sparked outrage among parents, educators, and civil society groups, who warn that insecurity is undermining Nigeria’s already fragile education system.
Analysts note that repeated attacks on schools and students — from Chibok to Dapchi and now Benue — have eroded public confidence in government’s ability to safeguard the future of its youth.
Obi concluded his statement with a warning:
“A nation that abandons its youth abandons its future. This cannot continue. A New Nigeria is Possible.”
The incident in Benue adds to a string of kidnappings targeting students across Nigeria, often carried out by armed groups seeking ransom.
Security experts say the trend reflects both the weakness of state institutions and the growing boldness of criminal networks.
Calls for urgent intervention from Nigerians across the country are mounting.
Stakeholders are urging federal and state authorities to prioritize the rescue of abducted students and strengthen security around examination centers and schools nationwide.
