(DDM) – Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the killing of traders, including a pregnant woman, by state-backed security operatives in Onitsha.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Obi expressed his outrage in a statement released on X, describing the incident as a tragic example of worsening insecurity and misuse of state security outfits in Anambra State.
Obi said it was deeply troubling that security formations established to protect citizens were now becoming agents of fear, intimidation, and violence.
He stressed that instead of safeguarding lives and property, the operatives had created another layer of terror, acting even worse than criminals they were set up to combat.
The Labour Party leader referenced previous cases of brutality, noting that another security outfit, Udo Ga-Achi, had earlier assaulted a youth corps member in the state.
According to him, the latest shooting in Onitsha proves that the crisis of accountability among state-backed security operatives is spiraling out of control.
Obi called for a full investigation into the killings and urged Governor Charles Soludo to immediately reorganise the outfits to ensure professionalism and respect for human rights.
He insisted that the tragic death of the pregnant woman, alongside other victims, represents a tipping point that must never be ignored.
Obi warned that without strict oversight, community-based security groups could easily transform into gangs of oppression, undermining the very essence of public protection.
He argued that only careful vetting, professional training, and continuous monitoring could restore public trust in these local security units.
Obi emphasised that Nigeria’s security challenges are already overwhelming and warned that unchecked brutality by government-backed groups would only compound citizens’ suffering.
He expressed deep sympathy to the families of the victims, praying that they find strength during their period of grief.
Security tensions have been rising in Anambra and across the South-East, with government and community-backed vigilante groups accused of human rights abuses.
Human rights observers note that since 2021, there has been a proliferation of armed vigilante outfits in the South-East, formed to curb rising insecurity but often operating without adequate supervision.
Critics argue that while the intention behind creating such outfits was noble, their poor training and lack of accountability have worsened insecurity rather than solved it.
The Onitsha incident has intensified pressure on Governor Soludo, who has championed grassroots security measures since assuming office in 2022.
Civil society groups are now demanding urgent reforms, warning that the credibility of his government will be questioned if the killings go unpunished.
Residents of Onitsha described the shootings as shocking and unnecessary, insisting that unarmed traders posed no threat to the operatives.
The incident has also triggered renewed calls for the federal government to review the role of community vigilante groups nationwide.
Observers believe the crisis reflects a larger national problem, where poorly regulated outfits end up escalating violence instead of reducing it.
As investigations unfold, attention is fixed on how the Soludo administration will respond to Obi’s criticism and the growing outrage among citizens.
For now, the people of Anambra remain shaken, demanding justice, accountability, and reassurance that their lives will no longer be at the mercy of armed groups meant to protect them.
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