By SCM Reporter I Wednesday, Sept 09, 2026
MANGU — Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, has made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to urgently restore security to beleaguered communities across the Middle Belt, declaring that as long as one Nigerian remains displaced, every citizen suffers the same fate.
Obi made the call on September 8 during an assessment visit to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp housing over 500 victims of violence in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The visit followed a frustrating turn of events earlier in the day in neighboring Benue State, where Obi and his delegation were barred from proceeding to Yelwata to commiserate with families affected by recent attacks.
Undeterred by the blockade, the former Anambra State governor rerouted his convoy to Plateau State to assess the escalating humanitarian situation firsthand.
Describing the situation in Mangu as deeply disturbing, Obi noted that available reports show over 45,000 people have been rendered homeless, with more than 20 ancestral communities completely overrun by terrorists.
”These are Nigerians who want nothing more than to return to their ancestral homes, rebuild their communities, cultivate their farms, and live their lives in peace and dignity,” Obi said while addressing the displaced victims.
”As I have always maintained, as long as there is one displaced Nigerian, all Nigerians are displaced. Our displaced citizens must not become forgotten Nigerians. They are citizens of our country whose homes, livelihoods, and futures have been disrupted.”
The NDC leader urged authorities to uphold the constitutional rights of every citizen, stressing that protection must be guaranteed irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.
He urged the government to urgently step up military and security presence in affected rural areas to create safe conditions for the displaced to return home and resume farming operations.
Obi capped the visit by handing out financial and material aid to the displaced families as a gesture of solidarity and shared humanity, assuring them that “a New Nigeria where every citizen can live, work, farm, and raise a family in peace is possible.”
Escalating Attacks: Plateau and Benue states have remained flashpoints of persistent violence involving armed non-state actors, leading to heavy casualties, destruction of farmland, and widespread displacement of rural agrarian communities.
Economic Footprint: Mangu Local Government Area serves as a major agricultural hub in Plateau State. The displacement of over 45,000 farmers threatens local food security, exacerbating regional food inflation and supply disruptions.
Persistent Humanitarian Gap: Local relief agencies and community leaders in Mangu have repeatedly called for increased federal intervention, citing overcrowded camps, inadequate sanitary conditions, and acute shortages of food and medical supplies for displaced families.
