NewStats: 3,265,269 , 8,186,184 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 07:42 AM 2q6b6i

A former British Diplomat, Mr David Roberts, has condemned last week’s killing of some SuperSport TV crew on Ihiala-Orlu Road in Anambra State, saying it was an unfortunate act of criminality.

The former diplomat, in a statement on Monday, expressed his heart-felt condolences to the families of the victims and their media organisations over the incident he said occurred despite spirited efforts by security agencies to rein in criminal elements in the country.

Last Tuesday, armed men attacked the broadcast station’s crew on its way to Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State capital, to cover the Nigeria-Libya Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match, killing two and a policeman.

Reacting to the incident, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, blamed it on the actions of non-state actors, who had made the country uncomfortable for innocent citizens.

“Non-state actors have continued to inflict pain and sorrow on families whose loved ones are often kidnapped and, at times, killed in gruesome ways,” he said on his X-handle on Sunday, adding, “In particular, I condemn in its entirety the unfortunate killing of some crew of SuperSport TV, who were attacked in a tragic ambush along the Ihiala-Orlu Road, Anambra State, a few days ago.”

However, Roberts, a former director of the British Council in Nigeria, clarified that the incident was an act of criminality by sundry criminal elements rather than terrorism, portrayed by Obi’s term non-state actor.

“By using the words “non-state actors” to describe the perpetrators of this dastardly and cowardly attack, Mr Obi has perhaps deliberately or inadvertently given the international community a clue that this incident was an act of terror or an organised act by a separatist group,” he said.

The former diplomat said it was necessary to make this clarification because terming the event as terrorism tended to stigmatise Nigeria as a terror-invested state, explaining that while the investigation was ongoing, it was clear that it was a random act of criminality by armed robbers or kidnappers, which have occurred globally despite the best efforts of governments.

He said, “Using the term non-state actors in this incident unnecessarily stigmatises Nigeria, which may tank her index score in next year’s Global Terrorism Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace.”

Saying the use of the term by Obi was unfortunate, Roberts onished influential and prominent Nigerians to be mindful of Nigeria’s international reputation whenever they made statements about its domestic affairs.

https://newsdirect.ng/peter-obi-wrong-to-describe-supersport-killers-as-non-state-actors-british-diplomat/

Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

Modified: Peter Obi's ers should understand that Peter Obi is not above mistakes. It's inability of his ers and people around him to correct him when he's wrong is what's making him not to have head way in politics.

Please what's the meaning of non state actor? Who are the people causing insecurity in South East if not Ipob militia wing UGM.

Those who take responsibility for their actions are ready to move ahead but pointing fingers, okay oo

A spade should be called what exactly it is .

Btw, why is it so difficult for some Peter Obi's ers to engage others maturely without throwing tantrums? How would such attitude attract undecided voters to una side when contrary opinions won't be tolerated.. Same obsolete methods

Taking responsibility is out of options for some Peter Obi's ers

helinues:
Toh

My god !

So you don’t want to be useful?

Lol…una done come again. I hardly see una talk about hardship in Niger Nor any developmental indices.

Lol. Keep wasting una time. I have never seen or read anywhere the president condemning any death in Nigeria recently.

Did this Mr Roberts actually say this?
So this Mr Roberts is only concerned about Nigerian reputation and her next ranking in the terror perception index and not concerned about the daily lost of lives.
This smells like one of those APC propaganda against Obi just to deflect the conversation from the real issues or of he actually said this, then I can bet he was hired by the APC.
I don't even understand what the issue is,or are they saying terrorists are not criminals

helinues:
Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

Wasted today already? Nigga till when?

helinues:
Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

Why are you this bitter

What did Peter Obi do to warrant this level of bitterness from you and your ilks


Who the fvck is "British diplomat"

The former diplomat said it was necessary to make this clarification because terming the event as terrorism tended to stigmatise Nigeria as a terror-invested state, explaining that while the investigation was ongoing, it was clear that it was a random act of criminality by armed robbers or kidnappers, which have occurred globally despite the best efforts of governments.

This is how the corrupt British behave when they are trying to get something from corrupt istrations in Africa unknown to undiscerning Africans like Helinues. If only their brains are not blocked, they should see 🙈 through this man that he's only seeking contracts from the Tinubu istration.

For one, who tells him that only terrorists qualify as non-state actors? Why is he calling an act that claimed the lives of foreign journalists in a country "a random act of criminality by armed robbers or kidnappers"? So, people who kidnap and kill people again and again are not non-state actors?

Na today una know say Obi na liar!

Oya na state actors kill them.

Pandering over choice of words from man who hold no political position or government authority.

Peak fooling

him be ibo....
dem no sabi how to talk....

helinues:
Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

You no de use eye see Obi matter, keep fooling yourself 30k salary earner

This is not the first time I am hearing the name of this "expired diplomat" expressing "his funny opinions" on national issues

It seems he has ed with Ronu or Emilokun group of companies like Mr. RINO and others.

I salute you guys, it is not easy to be a consistent government ass licker.

This Robert dude is actually trying to save Nigeria's image on the global scene. It's shocking how a foreigner cares more about Nigeria's image than Nigerians themselves.

For people who didn't understand the message Robert was trying to or did not read it at all, all he is saying is that Peter Obi should have called the killing of the SuperSport journalists as a criminal act committed by "Armed Robbers or Kidnappers" and shouldn't have called them "Non State Actors". Calling the criminals "Non state actors" could actually hurt Nigeria's position on the Global Terrorism Index. In order words, Peter Obi's statement blew the issue out of proportion.

People are begining to see the true colours of Peter Obi

Gbagam

overall90:
Did this Mr Roberts actually say this?
This smells like one of those APC propaganda against Obi just to deflect the conversation from the real issues.
I don't even understand what the issue is,or are they saying terrorists are not criminals

But he clearly explained. Global terrorism indexes dont use these general definitions as we do in common usage. Terrorism has a soecial status and is considered different from other classes of crimes.

helinues:
Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

are you sure you understood the whole thing?

At post, Obi used a term widely used and generally accepted in Nigeria.

Just like we widely use "Comity of nations" instead of "Community of nations" not knowing when to use the other.

Another example is a Nigerian who goes to the UK and says he is sick and wants to buy "drugs" instead of "meditation"

NAIJA is a failed nation

make dem keep quiet dem will say na margarnalawetin....

look how dem dey embarrass demselves over and over again....

helinues:
Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

Are you a graduate? Or you just lack the ability to read? He was accused of blowing the issue out of proportion by using the term none state actor .Infact the British diplomat is angry that Obi should not use such a term because the term None state actors is reserved for terrorists! So the British diplomat feels using this term will affect Nigeria's image globally!!

In fact the british man is saying Obi is washing our dirty lnen in public by calling eyepob such names like terrorists!!!! Or is this englsih too hard for your ibadan translator to understand?

Read in pidgin or Yoruba if English isnt easy for you to understand!.

Pls stop pretending to be hausa we all know you are Yoruba

Your can’t pretend forever, character is like smoke you can’t cover it forever. Now the world can see. Your ipob brother killed him.

F

Much ado about nothing

So the British are suddenly concerned about Nigeria's reputation? Had Obi called them common criminals, APC bots would have called him IPOB sympathizer.

Oga Weldon. Common knife attack for UK, una call the attackers terrorist, but here we should call those terrorizing us on a daily "friends of the state right?

helinues:
Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

you guys are shameless Sha, according to the diplomat obi's description is severe and worst, than it actually is, but I thought the Ronu miscreants always accuse him of downplaying events that occurs in the east, now he is escalating it, you guys still shamelessly attack him, it's very obvious you folks are irredeemable bigots, who stand for nothing but hate( ethnic and personal)

helinues:
Toh

Any events happening at his backyard, he must find a way of twisting the narration.

Foreigners are now calling out Peter Obi's hypocrisy, something we have been yarning for a while

Cheap stipend collector. Have you collected September stipend?