Atiku faults FG’s approach towards recent abductions in Kebbi

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President, has condemned the Federal Government’s approach to the recent abduction and subsequent release of schoolgirls in Kebbi State, stating that it reflects how terrorists now function as an “alternative government” rather than a sign of security success.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Atiku took issue with comments made by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who referred to the girls’ release as a security success during an interview on Arise News. He described these statements as “a disgraceful effort to mask a national tragedy while portraying government incompetence as valor.”

PAY ATTENTION: Follow The Lagos Voice on WhatsApp channel for latest updates

Atiku raised doubts about assertions that security agencies tracked the kidnappers in real time, contending that such surveillance should have led to the arrest of the abductors instead of negotiations. “If the DSS and military were indeed tracking the kidnappers in real time, why weren’t these criminals apprehended on the spot?” he questioned.

He pointed to a troubling pattern of mass abductions, ransom payments, and the peaceful return of bandits, indicating that terrorists now routinely “negotiate, collect ransom, and leave unharmed,” while officials celebrate these interactions as cooperation. “No serious nation can take pride in negotiating with criminals it claims to have under observation,” Atiku stated.

He accused the administration of hiding its failures behind propaganda, warning that under President Tinubu, terrorists and bandits behave like an alternative government, negotiating, receiving ransoms, and escaping repercussions, all while the presidency celebrates their so-called ‘compliance.’

The abduction in Kebbi took place on November 17 when armed men attacked the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, killing one staff member and abducting 25 students. One student managed to escape, leaving 24 in captivity until their release on Tuesday. Following their release, President Bola Tinubu, via Onanuga, expressed his approval and called on security agencies to ramp up efforts to rescue other Nigerians who have been abducted nationwide.