Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the killing of over 50 worshippers in a Katsina mosque by terrorists, warning that Nigeria will continue to suffer needless tragedies unless the root causes of insecurity are urgently addressed.

In a statement shared on his X handle, the former Anambra State governor described the massacre as “a painful reminder of the worsening state of insecurity in the nation.”

He stressed that every victim represents a life cut short and a family left shattered, urging leaders to prioritise the sanctity of human life.

“My condolences go to the bereaved families, the people and government of Katsina, and all Nigerians who live daily under the shadow of fear.

“We must build a nation where security of life and property is a right, not a privilege. A new Nigeria is possible,” Obi said.

Meanwhile, Obi also paid tribute to former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, lamenting the country’s neglect of sporting legends once they leave the spotlight.

The LP candidate, accompanied by ex-international Sylvanus Okpala, visited Rufai’s family in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, on Saturday, a day after the goalkeeper’s burial.

He explained that he only learned of the burial on Friday and immediately flew to Lagos to console the family.

“I came straight from the airport to say how sorry I am,” Obi told the family. “Rufai was a great goalkeeper and a national figure who deserved better treatment.”

Responding on behalf of the family, Rufai’s younger brother, Bruce, expressed gratitude for Obi’s presence, saying it helped lift their spirits after feeling “abandoned by the authorities.”

Obi described Rufai as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, lamenting that his story reflects “a troubling pattern in how Nigeria treats its heroes.”