Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Federal Government for releasing abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, claiming that their release should be viewed as evidence of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation rather than a success.
In a statement released by his media office on Wednesday, Atiku stated that the release of the schoolgirls was “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.”
The statement came in response to comments made by Bayo Onanuga, Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, during an interview with Arise News TV on Monday.
Onanuga emphasized the participation of the Department of State Services and the military in tracking down the kidnappers in real time and making contact to obtain the girls’ release without paying a ransom.
According to the presidential adviser, while security forces have the requisite intelligence, their operations are frequently hampered by the potential of collateral damage to citizens taken captive by the bandits.
“The security people, they know all the bandits that are operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate.
“Our people are living around where they operate. So you can’t just go there. They need to be very careful that in the course of chasing these bandits, they don’t go and bomb innocent Nigerians,” he said.
But Atiku dismissed the claim as “a shameful attempt to whitewash a national tragedy and dress up government incompetence as heroism.”
“If, as Onanuga claims, the DSS and the military could ‘track’ the kidnappers in real time and ‘make contact’ with them, then the question is simple: Why were these criminals not arrested, neutralized, or dismantled on the spot?
“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?” the former vice president asked.
He further stated 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.”
“No serious nation applauds itself for negotiating with terrorists it claims to have under surveillance. No responsible government congratulates itself for allowing abductors to walk back into the forests to kidnap again,” Atiku said.
On November 17, armed gunmen raided the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, killing one staff member and abducting 25 pupils from their dormitories.
One girl escaped shortly after, leaving 24 people in custody until they were released on Tuesday.
Tinubu welcomed the release in a statement made by Onanuga, expressing joy that “all 24 girls have been accounted for” and praising the security agencies’ efforts.
He advocated for more “boots on the ground” in problematic areas and urged authorities to prioritize rescuing other detainees across the country.
Nasir Idris, Governor of Kebbi State, acknowledged that no ransom was paid and attributed the release to concerted work by security officers.
