.jpg)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi have jointly and unequivocally condemned the barbaric terrorist attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, which resulted in the massacre of numerous soldiers and civilians, as well as the abduction of over 300 residents, including women and children.
The assault, which occurred on Wednesday night, targeted a military base and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, leaving a trail of devastation and profound grief among affected families and the Nigerian nation at large.
In a chilling development, the terrorists identified with Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad Boko Haram released a video claiming responsibility, boasting of their actions, parading some of the abducted villagers, and vowing to rename the community as part of a "caliphate.
" They explicitly threatened to extend their campaign of terror beyond Ngoshe to Maiduguri and ultimately to Abuja, the nation's capital.
Atiku Abubakar described the incident as "deeply troubling" and expressed strong indignation at what he perceives as the Federal Government's apparent indifference to this and similar recurring attacks.
He sympathized with the victims' families and lamented the normalization of such violence across the country, emphasizing that Nigeria cannot continue on this path of escalating insecurity.
Peter Obi echoed these sentiments, highlighting the unacceptable and ongoing slaughter of innocent Nigerians while calling for urgent, decisive action to halt the tide of terrorism.
Both leaders stressed that the renewed boldness of insurgents, including their brazen threats against the seat of government, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of national security strategies to protect lives, restore peace, and prevent further escalation.
"This horrific massacre and the terrorists' audacious vow to march on Abuja serve as a stark wake-up call," the leaders stated.
"The Federal Government must rise above complacency, demonstrate genuine empathy for victims, and deploy all necessary resources to decisively defeat this menace. Nigerians deserve safety, dignity, and a future free from the shadow of terror."
Atiku and Obi called on all Nigerians to unite against insecurity in all its forms and urged the authorities to prioritize the rescue of the abducted, support for grieving families, and sustained military operations to neutralize the threat.