Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly condemned a violent attack on a GUO transport bus along the Benin–Ore Expressway, describing the incident as “condemnable” and a troubling reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
In a statement released following the incident, Obi said he received “the devastating report of a violent attack on a GUO transport bus travelling along the Benin–Ore Expressway, where armed kidnappers reportedly ambushed the vehicle, killed the driver, and abducted all passengers into a nearby bush.”
He lamented that such tragedies are becoming frequent, noting, “Sadly, this has become an increasingly distressing and recurring story.”
Obi warned that the growing insecurity is taking a serious toll on the nation’s economy and everyday life. “This is yet another heartbreaking reminder of the worsening insecurity on our highways and across the nation. No society can truly thrive under such conditions of fear and uncertainty,” he said.
Highlighting the economic consequences, he added that “small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) are being severely affected,” explaining that “transporters are losing passengers, while traders and business owners are losing customers who can no longer travel safely.”
According to him, “economic activity is being quietly strangled by insecurity,” as fear continues to disrupt movement and commerce across the country.
The former Anambra State governor called for urgent government action, urging authorities to “confront this situation and take decisive steps to improve security across the country, especially for ordinary Nigerians who cannot afford the option of air travel.”
He further stressed the need to overhaul the nation’s security framework, stating, “We must rethink and strengthen our national security architecture.”
Obi concluded by reiterating the government’s core duty to citizens, saying, “The protection of lives and property must remain the foremost responsibility of the state. Anything less is unacceptable,” while offering prayers for victims and their families.
