Atiku Criticizes Tinubu Over Rising Insecurity, Demands Rescue Of Abducted Students

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over worsening insecurity in the country, calling for urgent action to rescue schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states.

Atiku’s remarks followed recent attacks in which dozens of students and teachers were kidnapped from schools in both states by suspected terrorists and armed groups.

In Borno State, at least 42 pupils were abducted during attacks on schools in Mussa town, Askira-Uba Local Government Area, while more than 40 students and teachers were also reportedly kidnapped from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

A mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly killed by his captors.

Reacting to the incidents in a statement on Thursday, Atiku described the country’s security situation as alarming, saying the continued attacks on schools undermined the government’s Safe Schools initiative.

“President Tinubu has no moral or political latitude to stay in Aso Villa a day longer if tens of hundreds of abducted citizens languish in captivity across the country,” he stated.

The former vice president said the repeated attacks by terrorists and bandits reflected what he described as the government’s inability to protect citizens.

“What type of government will allow non-state actors to turn its national territory into killing fields and a haven for kidnapping and extortion?” Atiku asked.

He warned that delayed responses to kidnappings and terrorist attacks could encourage more assaults on schools and communities, stressing that citizens expected swift and decisive action from government authorities.

“Impunity makes the terrorists bolder and more determined to carry out future attacks,” he said, adding that official condemnations alone were not enough without concrete rescue operations.

Atiku also called for reforms in the criminal justice system, including the establishment of special courts for terrorism-related offences to speed up trials.

“We urgently need special courts to speed up the trial of terrorists and bandits in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, presidential hopeful and chieftain of the Accord Party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, alleged that Nigeria was gradually returning to what he described as the “dark days” of former military ruler Sani Abacha.

Speaking ahead of the Accord Party presidential primary scheduled for May 30, Olawepo-Hashim accused powerful political interests of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Nigeria is being dragged back to the Abacha years,” he declared.

He further alleged that some influential figures were trying to manipulate opposition platforms and prevent credible challengers from emerging against the ruling establishment.

“We are seeing a replay of history, when political parties became tools for a self-succession agenda,” Olawepo-Hashim added, insisting that attempts to dominate the political space would eventually fail.