Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government over the latest killings in Southern Kaduna, describing the attack in Kauru Local Government Area as evidence of the government’s failure to tackle insecurity.
In a statement on Monday, Atiku said the killing of scores of residents was a tragic reminder that the Federal Government had not fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
He said no government could claim progress while citizens continued to be killed in their homes and communities by armed groups operating with little resistance.
“The reported killing of scores of innocent Nigerians in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Every life lost is a painful indictment of a government that has repeatedly promised security but continues to preside over an expanding landscape of bloodshed,” he said.
Atiku also faulted what he described as the administration’s focus on publicising an unverified letter of commendation from the United States instead of addressing the country’s worsening security situation.
According to him, protecting Nigerians should take precedence over seeking international recognition while communities remain vulnerable to attacks.
“It is deeply troubling that while Nigerians mourn yet another massacre, senior officials of this administration have been busy criss-crossing television studios and social media platforms brandishing what they describe as an unverified claim of a letter of commendation from the United States Government,” he said.
The former vice president stressed that Nigerians needed safety more than diplomatic praise.
“The people of Southern Kaduna and indeed all Nigerians do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security. They need to sleep without fear, travel without anxiety, cultivate their farms in peace and raise their children without the constant threat of terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals,” he added.
He maintained that the performance of any administration should be judged by its ability to safeguard lives rather than by public relations campaigns or foreign endorsements.
Atiku called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, urging the government to adopt intelligence-led operations, ensure the swift prosecution of perpetrators and implement proactive measures to prevent recurring attacks.
He also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and urged security agencies to remain vigilant as preparations for the 2027 general election gather pace.
“It is my sincere hope that this horrific massacre was not politically motivated. However, as the nation gradually approaches another political season, the security agencies must not only identify, apprehend and prosecute those responsible for this heinous crime, but must also take anticipatory and pre-emptive measures to strengthen security around vulnerable communities that could become targets of similar attacks,” he said.
Atiku concluded that history would judge governments by how well they protected their citizens, not by claims of diplomatic commendation.
“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. Today, the blood of innocent Nigerians speaks far louder than any unverified claim of international praise,” he stated.
