Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the killing of scores of people in Southern Kaduna, accusing the President Bola Tinubu administration of failing in its primary duty to protect lives and property.
Reacting to the reported massacre in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Atiku described the attack as heartbreaking and unacceptable, saying the continued bloodshed was evidence of worsening insecurity across the country.
According to him, every life lost is an indictment of a government that has repeatedly promised improved security but has failed to stop terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals from attacking communities with impunity.
The former vice president also took a swipe at senior officials of the Tinubu administration, accusing them of focusing on what he described as an unverified letter of commendation from the United States government while Nigerians continue to lose their lives.
Drawing a comparison, Atiku claimed the United States recently committed about $750,000 to rescue a single citizen stranded on a remote Pacific island following possible exposure to hantavirus, arguing that responsible governments place the lives of their citizens above public relations and international recognition.
“The people of Southern Kaduna and indeed all Nigerians do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security,” he said.
He stressed that governance should be measured by the safety of citizens rather than diplomatic commendations or media campaigns, insisting that external praise means little if Nigerians cannot live and work without fear.
Atiku called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, urging the government to adopt intelligence-driven operations, ensure the speedy prosecution of perpetrators and implement proactive measures to prevent further attacks.
He also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
While expressing hope that the killings were not politically motivated, Atiku urged security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible, while strengthening security around vulnerable communities as political activities ahead of future elections gather momentum.
“History will not remember how many letters of commendation a government claimed to have received. It will remember whether it protected its people when they needed protection the most,” he said.
