NDC's Peter Obi visits Mangu LGA to sympathise with displaced residents, citing 45,000 people displaced from over 20 communities and urging the Federal Government to act decisively rather than rely on prayers alone.
Mangu, Plateau State — September 2026
Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has lamented the prolonged killings and displacement affecting thousands of Nigerians in Plateau State, saying the continued existence of IDP camps in the state reflects a government failure to secure citizens and enable their safe return home.
Obi made the remarks during a visit to Mangu Local Government Area, one of the areas hardest hit by this month's mass-casualty attacks, to sympathise with displaced residents. He stressed the visit was not politically motivated but driven by concern over the plight of those forced from their homes, and called on the Federal Government to urgently address the killings and kidnappings fuelling displacement across Plateau and Benue.
"As Long as You Are in an IDP Camp, Nigeria Is in an IDP Camp"
"As long as you are in an IDP camp, Nigeria is in an IDP camp. When you go home, Nigeria is at home. You are not supposed to be here," Obi told displaced residents, urging the government to give greater attention to the security situation and take decisive action to protect citizens and prosecute those responsible for attacks.
"Prayers Alone Are Not Enough"
Obi acknowledged the value of prayer in the search for solutions but insisted it must be paired with concrete government action. "I listen to somebody who says we need prayers. Yes, we need prayers. But the government can answer prayers. The people who are coming to kill people are not from the moon. We know them. The Nigerian government should be able to deal with it," he said.
45,000 Displaced From Over 20 Communities
Obi cited the scale of the crisis directly, noting approximately 45,000 people remain displaced from more than 20 communities in the area. "You can imagine, 45,000 people in an area, over 20 communities. That is unacceptable. It is something that we must not allow to continue," he said, adding that he wished other presidential aspirants would visit IDP camps nationwide to witness the conditions of displaced Nigerians firsthand.
A Third Visit, Not a Campaign Stop
Obi noted this was his third visit to the area to draw attention to the humanitarian toll of insecurity, referencing previous support he had provided, including building a school and providing water access. He was explicit that the latest visit was not campaign-related: "I came here today, like I said, not to campaign. I came to assure you that you are in our mind, we are thinking about you, and we are hoping that one day we have the opportunity of coming here and none of you will be here, because you've gone back to your home."
Commending Resilience Amid Hardship
Obi commended the displaced residents' resilience after watching them sing and dance despite their circumstances, describing their ability to remain hopeful as encouraging while stressing that government must still work to enable their return home.
He also flagged the disruption to children's education caused by the destruction of communities, and pledged continued support for the camps within his capacity: "Be assured that you are not alone. Be assured that we are feeling your pain... we will continue from time to time to support you in any way we can."
Context: A Week of Mounting Political Attention on the Region
The Mangu visit comes just days after Obi's convoy was blocked in Benue en route to Yelwata, an incident that has drawn political fallout, including former Governor Samuel Ortom's condemnation of the blockade, in which he reportedly held Governor Hyacinth Alia responsible.
Together, the back-to-back visits and their fallout underscore how central North Central Nigeria's security and displacement crisis has become to the emerging 2027 political conversation, with Obi positioning himself as a consistent, visible presence in affected communities across both Benue and Plateau.
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