Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the frequency with which terrorists threaten citizens with impunity, while the government fails to respond decisively.
While noting that the primary responsibility of any government is the security and welfare of its citizens, Atiku urged President Tinubu to step down from office in the interest of Nigerians.
“President Tinubu has no moral or political latitude to stay in Aso Villa a day longer if tens of hundreds of abducted citizens languish in captivity across the country.
“What type of government will allow non-state actors to turn its national territory into killing fields and a haven for kidnapping and extortion?” the Waziri of Adamawa queried in a statement signed by the Atiku Media Office on Thursday.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called on the Federal government to expedite action on the safe release of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states.
No fewer than 42 schoolchildren were kidnapped on May 15 during terrorist raids on Government Day Secondary School, Mussa; Central Primary School; and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Secondary School in Mussa town, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
On the same day, more than 40 students and teachers were also abducted from Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele; Primary School, Esiele; and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. A teacher was reportedly beheaded.
Atiku, who expressed concern over the worsening insecurity in the country, stressed that it poses a direct threat to the education system and makes a mockery of the so-called Safe Schools Initiative.
According to Atiku, security should not be treated as a political slogan, adding that citizens can only be reassured by prompt and effective responses to security challenges.
He explained that allowing terrorist abductions to drag on creates incentives for future attacks on schools by criminal elements.
“Impunity makes the terrorists bolder and more determined to carry out future attacks. The citizens look up to the government for urgent and prompt intervention against banditry and terrorist attacks,” Atiku said, adding that “the government must project confidence in the minds of the citizens that it is capable of protecting them at all times.”
The former Vice President said official condemnations of terrorist abductions are not enough if they are not followed by prompt rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, Atiku lamented delays in the criminal justice system, where terrorism trials often drag on for years.
“We urgently need special courts to speed up the trial of terrorists and bandits in the country. In addition, the death penalty must be applied to terrorism offences in the country. But the death penalty itself cannot be effective if the government lacks the political will to promptly sign the death warrants for convicted terrorists,” he said.