FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again condemned President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a failure to tackle insecurity, following the killing of at least 47 persons in Zike community, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 15, Abubakar expressed deep sadness over the renewed attacks, stating that the resurgence of violence in Bassa, days after a similar massacre in Bokkos LGA, was proof of the federal government’s incompetence.
Abubakar, who described the development as “unacceptable,” said the attack is a grim reminder of the worsening state of security in our country.
“It is regrettable and entirely unacceptable that these Nigerians had to lose their lives as a result of the incompetence of the Tinubu-led administration. The protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of any government. Unfortunately, President Tinubu has failed these citizens and continues to fail them,” Abubakar said.
He also condemned, “The escalating wave of terrorist attacks in Borno State, which, according to Governor Babagana Zulum and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, has resulted in the loss of lives and territory to insurgents. These disturbing developments underscore the total collapse of the current administration’s security policy and architecture.”
He criticised the prolonged detention of terror suspects without trial, suggesting that such delays embolden criminal elements.
Abubakar called on the Attorney General of the Federation to prioritise the prosecution of terror suspects and urged the creation of special courts to accelerate trials.
He also warned against the increasing cross-border attacks by armed groups, calling it a “national disgrace” and further evidence of a failed security framework.
“Every sincere Nigerian should be disturbed by how terrorists and bandits operate with impunity, especially in Northern Nigeria, which has become the epicentre of this violence. The continued delay in prosecuting terrorists and bandits, some of whom have been in custody since 2016, has only emboldened these mass murderers.
“If the same level of urgency and energy were devoted to the prosecution of terrorists as we have seen applied to the trials of political critics, we would have sent a clear and forceful message that crime has consequences. Instead, justice is being delayed, and our security forces are being demoralised.
“The Attorney General of the Federation must prioritise the prosecution of these criminals, and special courts should be established to fast-track their trials. Our justice system must not give the impression that terrorism pays,” he said.
He further asked the National Assembly to consider legislation that would allow state governments to arm and equip their local security outfits, citing the need to bolster the capacity of overstretched federal security agencies.
His remarks followed fresh reports of coordinated attacks in the early hours of Monday, April 14, in Zike, which led to 51 deaths of citizens.
The attack came on the heels of a mass killing in Bokkos Local Government Area on March 28, which claimed over 50 lives, including children burned beyond recognition.
Despite President Tinubu’s vow to apprehend and prosecute those behind the attacks, violence in the region has persisted.
The ongoing violence has resulted in significant loss of life, destruction of property, and erosion of trust in governance, demanding urgent national attention.
Following the March 28 attack, Atiku, in a statement on his X handle, said the ‘failure of Tinubu’s security architecture has now become an endemic nationwide phenomenon with repeated killings, more of which do not even make the headlines.’
He noted that Nigerians are gradually being conditioned to accept frequent reports of senseless killings as normal, and once again extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State and to the families affected by the tragedy.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M