Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, has accused President (General)Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of gross incompetence following a deadly attack in Plateau State’s Zike community, where at least 47 people were killed.
The massacre in Bassa LGA, coming shortly after a similar incident in Bokkos LGA, highlights the escalating insecurity across Nigeria, Atiku said in a Tuesday statement on his official Facebook page.
Expressing grief and alarm, Atiku described the violence as a direct result of the government’s failure to prioritize citizen safety. “The Tinubu-led administration has utterly failed to protect lives and property, the core duty of any government,” he stated. He also pointed to rising terrorism in Borno State, referencing concerns from Governor Babagana Zulum and the Shehu of Borno about mounting casualties and territorial losses to insurgents.
Atiku criticized the administration’s ineffective security policies, noting the lack of progress in prosecuting terrorists, some arrested as early as 2016. “If the government pursued terrorists with the same vigor as it does political opponents, we’d see real consequences for crime,” he remarked. He called for the Attorney General to fast-track terrorism trials and proposed special courts to handle such cases efficiently.
The PDP leader also condemned the government’s inability to curb cross-border attacks by armed groups, calling it a “national embarrassment.” He urged the National Assembly to pass laws enabling state governments to equip their security forces with modern weaponry to bolster Nigeria’s strained security framework.
Atiku emphasized proactive measures over reactive condolences, stating, “The people deserve prevention, not just sympathy.” He encouraged communities to share intelligence with security agencies and avoid aiding armed groups, stressing that security is a collective effort. While praising the bravery of Nigeria’s security personnel, he insisted they require tangible government support.
He concluded with a call for justice for the victims and a safer Nigeria, saying, “May the departed rest in peace. We owe them a better future.”
