Peter Obi Blames Katsina Attack on Poverty and Joblessness

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has attributed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity to high levels of poverty and unemployment, warning that failure to address these root causes will continue to fuel violence across the country.

Obi made the remarks on Wednesday via his official X handle, while reacting to the killing of 13 worshippers at a mosque in Unguwan Mantau, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Describing the attack as “another needless bloodletting,” the former Anambra State governor strongly condemned the incident, calling it both unacceptable and tragic—particularly as it involved people gathered in worship.

“This deplorable killing underscores, once again, how much human life has been devalued in our society,” he said.

Obi extended his condolences to the families of the victims and the broader worshipping community, expressing sorrow over the growing loss of innocent lives.

“Coming shortly after we celebrated the recent achievements of our security forces, including the arrest of high-profile terrorist elements, this news from Katsina is both shocking and disheartening,” he wrote.

The former governor warned that unless structural issues such as unemployment and widespread poverty are urgently addressed, Nigeria will remain vulnerable to insecurity.

“So long as we fail to tackle critical social challenges like unemployment, and continue operating a system that drives more citizens into multidimensional poverty, these kinds of tragedies will persist,” Obi added.