Nigerian leaders condemn Borno’s Ngoshe attack, decry govt indifference

A recent attack by suspected terrorists on a military base and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, has drawn strong condemnation from prominent Nigerian political figures.

The assault, which reportedly led to the abduction of over 100 citizens, has highlighted deep concerns about the federal government’s handling of insecurity across the nation.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed his profound sympathy for the victims’ families while simultaneously voicing “strong indignation at the government’s evident lack of empathy towards the victims of these increasingly frequent assaults.”

He described the incident as “deeply troubling” and criticized the “apparent indifference of the Federal Government to this incident and to many similar attacks before it.”

Abubakar lamented that the “upsurge in violence and killings has become so widespread across the country that both government and society seem to have grown numb to the bloodshed resulting from these assaults.”

He further accused the current administration of “losing its grip on the fight against terrorism and violent attacks,” suggesting it is “more focused on unleashing intense pressure against political opponents and enabling self-serving ethnic militia groups.
“Similarly, Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, conveyed his “heavy heart” upon learning of the “horrific attack.”

He noted that the terrorists targeted “not only a military base but also an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, and sadly claimed the lives of innocent civilians and soldiers, many of whom are still missing.”

Obi described watching videos of the tragedy with “deep horror,” emphasizing the “painful reality of the daily suffering that far too many Nigerians are forced to endure.”
He posed critical questions: “How long will Nigerians continue to bear the consequences of poor leadership and mismanagement?

“How many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken to secure our communities, protect the vulnerable, and dismantle the structures of these insurgents?”

Obi criticized political leaders for being “preoccupied with selfish schemings on how to steal, grab and run away with the next election cycle, keep us in insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment” while Nigerians are being slaughtered.
Both leaders underscored the urgent need for a government that prioritizes human life and security.

Obi concluded with a call to action: “We must act now, for today’s victims, for tomorrow’s children, and for the Nigeria we all deserve. A New Nigeria is POssible.”

Reports indicate that suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted more than 300 residents during the midnight attack on Wednesday, forcing thousands of survivors to flee to the neighboring Pulka community, where many have been left sleeping on roads and in school buildings, fearing further attacks.