Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the worsening insecurity in the country following the death of former House of Representatives member, Abba Adamu, in kidnappers’ custody.
Adamu, who represented Guri, Kiri-Kasamma and Birniwa Federal Constituency between 2007 and 2011, was reportedly abducted on May 3 along the Kaduna-Abuja highway while travelling from Kano to Abuja for a political meeting.
Reports claimed the former lawmaker died nine days later while in captivity despite efforts by his family to secure his release.
Reacting in a statement issued in Abuja by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the incident reflected the deteriorating security situation under the current administration.
“Adamu’s death is yet another grim reminder of the worsening collapse of security under the Tinubu administration,” he said.
The former vice president added, “Let us be brutally honest: Nigeria is under siege, and this administration appears either overwhelmed, indifferent, or dangerously incompetent in the face of this national emergency.”
Atiku questioned how a former federal lawmaker could be kidnapped on a major highway and still die in captivity, asking what hope remained for ordinary Nigerians.
“When a former member of the National Assembly can be abducted on one of the country’s most strategic highways and die in captivity, what hope remains for the ordinary Nigerian who lacks visibility, influence, or protection?” he asked.
He said kidnappings and violent attacks had become widespread across the country, with citizens no longer feeling safe on highways, in their homes or on farms.
“This is no longer about isolated incidents. It is now a horrifying pattern,” he stated.
Atiku also faulted the continued insecurity along the Abuja-Kaduna road despite repeated assurances from security agencies and huge government spending on security.
“A government that cannot secure its highways cannot claim to govern. A government that watches citizens get hunted like prey has failed the most elementary test of leadership,” he said.
He further questioned the Federal Government’s security strategy and called for accountability, insisting that Nigerians were tired of condolence messages and wanted concrete action to address insecurity.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
