***Says Terrorists, Kidnappers Taking Over Nigeria
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu over the worsening insecurity across the country, declaring that Nigeria is steadily losing ground to bandits and terrorists.
Atiku’s outburst followed the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, a former Director of Defence Information, who reportedly died in captivity after being abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President described the retired military officer’s death as a tragic symbol of the Federal Government’s inability to guarantee the safety of Nigerians.
According to Atiku, the late General Rabe devoted his life to defending Nigeria, only to die helplessly in the hands of kidnappers after his abduction on May 30.
Reports indicated that the retired officer succumbed to complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while in captivity after attempts to secure his release failed.
Atiku said the development sends a frightening message that no Nigerian is safe, irrespective of status, influence or past service to the nation.
“The death of a retired senior military officer in captivity is a painful reminder of how deeply insecurity has taken root in our country,” he said.
The ADC flagbearer argued that the incident reflects the growing confidence of criminal gangs and the inability of security agencies to effectively contain their activities.
He further linked the tragedy to renewed terrorist attacks in the North-East, noting that on the same day Nigerians were mourning General Rabe, terrorists reportedly invaded communities in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, setting primary and secondary school buildings ablaze.
According to him, the attack reopened old wounds associated with the 2014 abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, an incident that attracted global outrage.
“The flames that consumed those school buildings reignited painful memories Nigerians have spent years trying to overcome,” Atiku stated.
He warned that the latest attacks suggest that Nigeria may be slipping back into one of the darkest chapters of its battle against insurgency.
The former Vice President said the death of General Rabe and the destruction of schools in Chibok show that hard-won security gains achieved through years of military operations are gradually being eroded.
He also expressed concern over reports that dozens of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states since May are still being held by kidnappers, alongside many other victims across the country.
Atiku maintained that every attack on schools and every successful kidnapping represents a failure of government to protect citizens and secure the future of the nation.
He renewed his call for the declaration of a state of emergency on security, insisting that the scale of the crisis demands urgent and coordinated action.
The former Vice President urged the Federal Government to move beyond routine condemnations and adopt decisive strategies aimed at rescuing victims, dismantling criminal networks and restoring public confidence in the country’s security architecture.
While commiserating with the family of the late General Rabe, Atiku prayed for the safe release of his wife and other abducted Nigerians, urging authorities to treat the incident as a wake-up call in the fight against insecurity.
“The nation cannot continue like this. Nigerians deserve safety, peace and a government capable of protecting lives and property,” he said.
