Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said incompetence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is responsible for killings in Plateau State.
Atiku said this in a Tuesday statement following resurgence of violent attacks in Plateau, particularly the recent killings in Zike community in the Kimakpa area of Kwali district, Bassa Local Government Area, where at least 47 persons were killed on Sunday.
He said, “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.”
The Waziri Adamawa further condemned 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 stated.
Atiku emphasised that 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.
He explained that 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.
Atiku charged the Attorney General of the Federation to prioritise the prosecution of these criminals and advocated for the establishment of special courts to fast-track their trials.
“Our justice system must not give the impression that terrorism pays,” Atiku stressed.
He urged the National Assembly to urgently pass legislation that allows state governments to properly arm and equip their security outfits with modern weapons, noting that this would strengthen the nation’s overall security architecture and help relieve the overstretched federal security agencies.
“At the same time, I must call on community members to reject collaboration with armed groups and instead support our security forces by sharing intelligence. Security is a shared responsibility.
“I commend the courage and sacrifices of our security forces. Their efforts remain invaluable, but they need the full support of the people and a government that prioritises security, not just with words but with decisive action,” he said.
