The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, has accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of failing to protect Nigerians amid rising killings and abductions across parts of the country.
The party urged Mr Tinubu to take urgent action to end the violence, saying Nigerians could not wait until the 2027 general elections to get relief from worsening insecurity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the growing impunity of criminal groups had left citizens vulnerable to attacks, while the government continued to respond with statements rather than effective action.
“The scale of the killings and abductions of helpless citizens and the rising impunity of their tormentors suggests that Nigerians live in a lawless country,” Mr Baba-Ahmed said.
He listed Kwara, Niger, Benue, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Borno, Plateau and Yobe among states affected by the attacks.
Mr Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians continued to lose their lives, livelihoods, property and freedom to criminal activities, while communities faced growing threats to their safety and economic survival.
He also expressed concern over the pressure on military personnel and civilian volunteers involved in efforts to tackle insecurity.
“Our gallant military and sundry volunteers are hard-pressed and virtually at the mercy of this expanding industry that feeds on lives, livelihood and economy of millions of our people,” he said.
The PRP further accused the APC administration of prioritising its political ambition and the pursuit of another term over the safety of citizens.
According to the party, the government has deployed huge sums of money to secure the support of a small circle of Nigerians while ordinary citizens continue to bear the consequences of insecurity.
Mr Baba-Ahmed urged Nigerians to speak out against the killings and hold the government accountable for its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
He said Mr Tinubu had a duty to address the security crisis before the end of his tenure.
“President Tinubu still has four months to go before his defeat. He has a responsibility to live up to his oath to protect lives and the welfare of Nigerians,” he said.
The PRP called on the president to prioritise the protection of citizens rather than focus on political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.