Peter Obi urges national emergency on insecurity while facing airport fine dispute

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi called on Nigeria’s federal government to declare a national emergency over insecurity after fresh attacks in Benue and Plateau states left more than 200 people dead. Obi condemned the killings as a failure of leadership and urged intelligence‑driven operations and decisive deployment of security forces, rejecting symbolic visits in favour of concrete protection for communities.

Separately, Senator David Umahi of Ebonyi State dismissed Obi’s claim that his life was under threat, asserting that Obi will remain alive to contest—and lose—the 2027 presidential election. At the same time, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo demanded that Obi apologize to Federal Airports Authority officials and pay a ₦25,000 fine for a vehicle‑clamping incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, saying the matter was a breach of airport regulations, not political persecution.