Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the military to fully take control of Borno and other states facing attacks from terrorists and armed groups.
His statement came after Brigadier General Musa Uba was killed in an ambush reportedly carried out by insurgents.
In a message posted on his social media pages on Monday Evening, Atiku said he was “deeply saddened, extremely shocked, and disturbed” by the death of the senior officer. He criticised the federal government for not being transparent about what really happened.
Earlier reports claimed the general survived the attack, but it was later confirmed that he and several soldiers under his command were killed.
Atiku said this confusion showed a failure of leadership.
He accused President Bola Tinubu of focusing more on fighting the political opposition than on his duty as Commander-in-Chief.
“This is clearly a failure of political leadership,” he said.
Atiku warned that the killing signalled a dangerous rise in terrorist activities, which the country must not ignore. He encouraged Nigerians and the military to remain strong, saying that “this difficult period will pass.”
He told President Tinubu that protecting the lives of citizens must remain his top priority.
“You must live up to your responsibility or accept that you are not capable and either ask for help or resign,” Atiku said.
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, said that if he were president, he would order the military to completely take over Borno State or any area controlled by bandits or insurgents until it is fully secured.
He also stressed the need to protect the men and women fighting for the country.
Atiku extended his condolences to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the family of the late general, and all Nigerians affected by the renewed insecurity. He expressed hope that this dark period would soon come to an end.
