Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the country’s worsening insecurity following the death of former House of Representatives member, Abba Adamu in kidnappers’ custody.
Adamu, who represented Guri, Kiri-Kasamma and Birniwa Federal Constituency from 2007 to 2011, was kidnapped on May 3 along the Kaduna-Abuja highway while travelling from Kano to Abuja for a political meeting. Reports claimed he died nine days later while being held by his abductors despite efforts by his family to secure his freedom.
Reacting through a statement released in Abuja by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the incident showed how insecurity had continued to worsen across Nigeria under the current administration.
He said, “Adamu’s death is yet another grim reminder of the worsening collapse of security under the Tinubu administration.”
Atiku added, “Let us be brutally honest: Nigeria is under siege, and this administration appears either overwhelmed, indifferent, or dangerously incompetent in the face of this national emergency.”
He questioned how a former lawmaker could be kidnapped on a major highway and still die in captivity, asking what chance ordinary Nigerians have when trapped in such a situation.
“When a former member of the National Assembly can be abducted on one of the country’s most strategic highways and die in captivity, what hope remains for the ordinary Nigerian who lacks visibility, influence, or protection?” he asked.
The former vice president said kidnappings and attacks have become common across the country, with people no longer feeling safe on roads, in their homes or even on their farms.
“This is no longer about isolated incidents. It is now a horrifying pattern,” he stated.
Atiku also criticised the continued insecurity along the Abuja-Kaduna road despite repeated promises from security agencies and huge spending on security.
“A government that cannot secure its highways cannot claim to govern. A government that watches citizens get hunted like prey has failed the most elementary test of leadership,” he said.
He questioned the Federal Government’s security strategy and demanded accountability.
Atiku said Nigerians were tired of condolence messages and wanted real action from the government to address insecurity
