Atiku slams Tinubu over rising killings in North-Central, accuses APC of complicity in violence

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of abandoning the North-Central region to insecurity, saying the government has failed in its most basic duty of safeguarding lives and property.

 

In a statement issued Tuesday, Atiku lamented the resurgence of killings in states like Kwara, Niger, Plateau, and Benue, noting that what were once safe areas have now become epicenters of banditry, kidnappings, and militant attacks.

 

He cited Niger State, where militants have reportedly attacked military bases, killed soldiers, and even massacred worshippers in mosques. In Benue and Plateau, he said communities continue to “bury their dead while the Federal Government looks away.”

 

According to Atiku, more than 10,000 lives were lost across Northern states within Tinubu’s first two years in office, with Benue accounting for more than half. “Since then, mass killings continue weekly, while the government pretends nothing is wrong,” he said, describing the situation as a “monumental failure.”

 

Beyond security concerns, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating political violence to weaken the opposition. He alleged that thugs and infiltrators loyal to the APC disrupted opposition meetings in Kaduna, Kebbi, and Ogun, while security forces looked the other way.

 

“The silence of the APC leadership is proof of complicity,” Atiku declared, warning that politicians who rely on violence to win elections are “desperate, unpopular, and dangerous to democracy.”

 

The former Vice President also cautioned the Nigeria Police to remain neutral and loyal to the Constitution, reminding the force that it is funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party.

 

“Anything less,” he said, “is a betrayal of public trust.”