Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has linked the growing wave of insecurity in Nigeria to the high levels of poverty and unemployment in the country.

Obi made this known in a post on his official X handle on Wednesday while reacting to the tragic killing of 13 worshippers during a mosque attack in Unguwan Mantau, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He condemned the incident, describing it as another needless bloodbath, especially as the victims were killed while praying.

“It is unacceptable, even more so when it involves people who had gone to worship their Creator,” Obi said.

The former Anambra governor emphasized that the attack underscores the erosion of the value of human life in Nigeria. While commiserating with the bereaved families and the wider worshipping community, Obi warned that the root causes of insecurity must be urgently addressed.

He noted that while recent successes recorded by security agencies deserve commendation, deeper social challenges cannot be ignored.

“So long as we fail to address crucial social challenges such as unemployment, and so long as we continue to operate a system that drives more people into multidimensional poverty, we will continue to experience these ugly consequences,” Obi wrote.

The mosque attack in Katsina adds to the list of violent incidents linked to banditry and terrorism in northern Nigeria, raising further concerns over how economic hardship is feeding the cycle of violence.