Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the coordinated suicide bombings that rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, calling the attacks a stark indictment of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation and a failure of leadership to protect citizens.

In a statement issued on his X account, Obi said the nation had been “engulfed in grief and outrage” following the explosions, which struck the Maiduguri Monday Market, the Post Office area, and a location near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Authorities and local sources confirmed that at least 23 people were killed in the near-simultaneous blasts, with more than 100 others injured. Families have been combing hospitals and emergency centres in search of missing relatives, as rescue workers and security agencies continue to piece together how the attackers breached existing security measures.

Obi described the bombings as a “painful reminder” of how far the country has drifted from the basic duty of governance: safeguarding lives and property. He warned that the ability of attackers to strike crowded civilian locations such as markets and areas close to hospitals underscored the vulnerability of ordinary Nigerians.

He also criticised what he termed a muted national reaction to such tragedies, arguing that the relative silence and lack of visible urgency from those in authority risk normalising mass violence. According to him, the Maiduguri incident fits into a broader pattern of insecurity spanning multiple states.

Obi cited recent attacks in Kwara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Sokoto, Benue and even within the Federal Capital Territory as evidence of a deepening crisis. He drew attention to reports from Katsina, where some communities are allegedly compelled to pay a so-called “peace tax” to armed groups in exchange for being spared further assaults.

Calling for decisive leadership, Obi said moments like this test not only the country’s security architecture but the very essence of governance. He urged those in power to demonstrate empathy and responsibility by prioritising security over ceremonial engagements, including cancelling non-essential trips to focus on protecting citizens and visiting affected communities.

Police authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the identities of the attackers and the networks behind them.

Obi extended his condolences to the families of the dead and wounded, praying for comfort for the bereaved and healing for the injured. He insisted that Nigeria cannot continue on its current trajectory, urging the government to respond with “urgency, responsibility and compassion” to restore public confidence and safety.