Atiku Abubakar criticises FG over Kebbi schoolgirls’ release, calling it a reminder of Nigeria’s deteriorating security, not an achievement.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over the release of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, saying their freedom should not be presented as an achievement but as evidence of Nigeria’s worsening security environment.
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In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Atiku described the return of the schoolgirls as “not a trophy moment” but “a damning reminder that terrorists now operate freely, negotiate openly, and dictate terms while this administration issues press statements to save face.”
Atiku’s remarks were made in response to comments by Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, during an interview on Arise News TV on Monday. Onanuga had credited the Department of State Services and the military for tracking the kidnappers in real time and establishing contact to secure the girls’ release without paying ransom.
The presidential aide emphasised the challenges faced by security operatives, noting that “you can’t just go there” due to the risk of collateral damage to civilians living near bandit camps.
Atiku, however, dismissed the narrative as “a shameful attempt to whitewash a national tragedy and dress up government incompetence as heroism.”
He questioned why the kidnappers were not arrested or neutralised if they were being tracked, asking: “Why is the government boasting about talking to terrorists instead of eliminating them? Why is kidnapping now reduced to a routine phone call between criminals and state officials?”
He added that the administration’s explanation “suggests that terrorists and bandits have become an alternative government, negotiating, collecting ransom, and walking away untouched, while the presidency celebrates their compliance.”
The abduction occurred on November 17, when armed assailants stormed the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, killing one staff member and kidnapping 25 students from their dormitory.
One girl escaped shortly after, leaving 24 in captivity until their release on Tuesday.
President Bola Tinubu welcomed the release, issuing a statement through Onanuga expressing relief that “all the 24 girls have been accounted for” and commending security agencies.
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Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris confirmed that no ransom was paid, attributing the release to coordinated action by security personnel.
