‘One Displaced Nigerian Means All Nigerians Are Displaced’ — Obi

By Our Reporter

Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government to urgently secure communities ravaged by attacks and facilitate the safe return of thousands of displaced Nigerians, declaring that the country cannot accept displacement as a permanent way of life.

Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), made the demand during a visit to an IDP camp in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where more than 500 displaced persons are currently taking refuge.

The visit came after Obi and his delegation were prevented from proceeding to Yelwata in Benue State on Tuesday, September 8, where they had planned to meet displaced residents and families affected by recent attacks.

He instead travelled to Mangu, where he met displaced Nigerians and assessed the conditions under which they are living.

Obi described the scale of displacement in the area as “deeply disturbing,” citing reports that more than 45,000 people had been forced from their homes and that more than 20 communities had allegedly been sacked by terrorists.

But beyond the figures, Obi said the real issue was the loss of homes, livelihoods, farms and the basic dignity of citizens forced to flee their communities.

“As I have always maintained, as long as there is one displaced Nigerian, all Nigerians are displaced,” Obi said.

He urged the Federal Government to protect citizens irrespective of their location, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, stressing that security must extend beyond preventing attacks to ensuring that victims can safely return and rebuild their lives.

According to Obi, the displaced residents he met want to return to their ancestral homes, rebuild their communities, cultivate their farms and live with dignity.

“They want to go back to their homes, farm their land, raise their families and live in peace,” he said, while urging the government to create the security conditions necessary for such a return.

Obi also provided support to displaced families as a gesture of solidarity, insisting that victims of violence must not be abandoned after being driven from their homes.

He called for sustained government intervention to secure affected communities, rebuild destroyed infrastructure and restore the livelihoods of displaced residents.

For Obi, the measure of government’s response should ultimately be whether displaced Nigerians can return home safely—not how long they remain in camps.

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