Atiku Oyo Kidnap Crisis Reaction as ADC candidate condemns government response to Oyo school abduction and calls for urgent rescue of victims
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday strongly criticised the Federal Government over the reported distribution of rice and other palliatives to families of victims of the recent Oyo school kidnapping, describing the gesture as cruel and a stark admission of failure.
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Atiku reacts to Oyo kidnap crisis came through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in which he accused the administration of failing in its most fundamental responsibility of protecting citizens.
Atiku said the reported response to the abduction was insensitive, arguing that families of kidnapped schoolchildren require urgent rescue efforts rather than relief materials.
He stated that parents were enduring deep emotional trauma and uncertainty over the fate of their children, insisting that only swift action to secure their release would be meaningful.
“The cruelty of such a response is difficult to comprehend,” he said, stressing that affected families were demanding action, not palliatives.
The former Vice President further warned that the incident reflected a broader deterioration in Nigeria’s security situation, alleging that insecurity had become normalised under the current administration.
He described the government’s response as an abdication of responsibility, arguing that it signalled an inability to meet basic governance expectations.
Atiku also cautioned that failure to decisively address insecurity would embolden criminal groups and expose more communities to danger.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately deploy security and intelligence agencies to secure the unconditional release of the abducted schoolchildren and their teachers.
“There must be consequences for those who prey on innocent Nigerians,” he warned, adding that continued insecurity risks pushing families into a constant state of fear and economic strain.
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Political observers note that the remarks add to growing public debate over the government’s handling of recent abductions in parts of the country.
