Atiku Abubakar Criticizes Rising Insecurity in Nigeria
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denounced the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren and educators in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, as well as the tragic killing of several residents in Katsina State. He attributes these disturbing incidents to what he describes as a “collapse of leadership” under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Publicity, Plank Shaibu, Mr. Atiku expressed his sorrow over the reported death of a teacher involved in the Ogbomoso kidnapping. He emphasized that the escalating insecurity throughout the nation revealed significant flaws within Nigeria’s security framework.
“As armed criminals continue to abduct schoolchildren, murder innocent civilians, and transform communities into graveyards, President Tinubu’s response has become a predictable ritual: condemning the violence, threatening that the perpetrators will face the ‘full wrath of the law,’ and then awaiting the next tragedy,” the statement highlighted.
Atiku noted that Nigerians have become weary of this familiar narrative, which he argues has lost all meaning. “President Tinubu should cease governing from the shadows of obituaries,” he urged. He added, “It’s time for genuine action rather than recycled outrage and empty threats. Lives are at stake, yet this government continues to respond with mere press releases.”
The former vice president pointed out that ongoing attacks on schools and communities have given criminal groups the audacity to operate with alarming boldness. He remarked, “A president who only raises his voice after blood has been shed is not truly leading; he is merely presiding over a failure.”
Atiku continued his critique, stating that the heinous acts in Ogbomoso and Katsina are emblematic of a widespread crisis. “These are not isolated events. They form part of a grave national trend where criminals act with terrifying confidence, unafraid of the Nigerian state’s authority,” he insisted.
The uptick in kidnappings, banditry, and mass killings in Nigeria, especially in the northwest and north-central regions, has persisted despite repeated assurances from the federal government that security officials are addressing the criminal elements. The recent Ogbomoso kidnapping has reignited concerns over the safety of schools and harkened back to previous mass abductions in Kaduna, Zamfara, and Niger, as communities grapple with the ongoing threat posed by armed groups in Katsina State.
Mr. Atiku voiced skepticism regarding the government’s habit of issuing statements following violent incidents, asserting that condolences without decisive action fail to alleviate public concern. “What comfort does the ‘full wrath of the law’ offer to families who have already buried their loved ones? What reassurance can a new presidential statement provide to parents terrified of sending their children to what might be a lethal environment?” he questioned.
He also expressed alarm over attempts to suppress graphic evidence of the atrocities in the public domain. “Reports indicate a deliberate effort to censor images and documentation of these horrific acts from the public. If this government prioritizes controlling the narrative of mass murder over preventing such crimes, it embodies not only incompetence but a profound moral brutality,” he asserted. “A serious government does not obscure the blood of its citizens to uphold a political agenda.”
Atiku concluded by stating that the government’s inability to ensure safety, coupled with attempts to manipulate public discourse surrounding these attacks, signifies a deeper ethical crisis. “A government that cannot protect its citizens while trying to erase evidence of their demise has forfeited any moral authority to govern. This is not merely a failure of security but a failure of leadership, a national disgrace. Nigerians deserve a government that prioritizes their safety and acts preventively, rather than one that merely reacts after the damage is done,” he reiterated.
He called for urgent measures to rescue all abductees in Oyo State, an increase in security operations in vulnerable areas, and a comprehensive reassessment of Nigeria’s national security architecture.
