Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has raised alarm over Nigeria’s growing internal displacement crisis, saying millions of citizens have been turned into refugees in their own country due to worsening insecurity.In a statement issued Saturday to mark World Refugee Day, Obi said communities across the North and other regions have been devastated by terrorism, banditry, and violent attacks, forcing families into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.He described the camps as a “painful reflection” of the nation’s failure to protect its people, noting that many facilities remain grossly underfunded and unable to meet basic needs.“Many of these camps are grossly underfunded and inadequate for the thousands forced to live there. Families struggle daily for food, healthcare, education, and basic dignity. For many, survival has become their only reality,” Obi said.The former presidential candidate highlighted the toll of ongoing violence: children abducted from schools, families abandoning their homes, farmers cut off from farmlands, and communities living under constant threat of kidnapping and attacks.Obi warned that the deteriorating security situation is reducing the chances of displaced persons returning home and rebuilding their lives.“On this World Refugee Day, we must remember that behind every statistic is a human life disrupted, a family uprooted, and a future put on hold,” he said.
He urged stronger commitment to the safety, dignity, and well-being of all Nigerians, stressing that citizens have a right to live peacefully in their own country.
