Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Atiku Abubakar has condemned the escalating insurgence across Nigeria’s north-central region, accusing President Bola Tinubu of neglecting the zone.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Atiku said the resurgence of killings signals a monumental failure by the government to fulfil its basic duty of protecting lives and property.
“Kwara, once safe, is now a hotspot for banditry and kidnappings. Niger State has seen attacks on military bases, killings of soldiers, and massacres in places of worship. Plateau and Benue continue to bury their dead while the federal government looks away,” he said.
According to Atiku, by May 2025, just two years into Tinubu’s administration, over 10,000 lives had already been lost in northern states, with Benue accounting for more than half. He noted that mass killings continue weekly, while the government remains silent.
He criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly using thugs, infiltrators, and hired hooligans to disrupt opposition political meetings in Kaduna, Kebbi, and Ogun, while security forces failed to intervene, blaming the victims instead.
“Let it be clear: violence is a vicious circle that will eventually consume those who use it. Any politician who needs violence to win is desperate, unpopular, and dangerous to democracy. We remind the Nigeria Police: you are funded by taxpayers, not by the APC. Your duty is to remain neutral, fair, and constitutional. Anything less is betrayal of public trust,” Atiku concluded.
Chuks Okocha
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