African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has condemned reported killings and mass abductions in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State and accused the Federal Government of failing to protect citizens.
In a statement by his media office, Atiku said reports that more than 40 people were killed and others abducted represented another serious breakdown in security.
The casualty and abduction figures were presented in Atiku’s statement and were not independently verified in the source material.
The former Vice President also referred to schoolchildren and other civilians who had reportedly remained in captivity for more than 100 days.
He argued that the amount Nigeria spent on security should be judged by whether farmers could work safely, travelers could use highways and communities could avoid repeated attacks.
Atiku said a future administration led by him would focus on making armed groups fear the state rather than leaving citizens feeling abandoned.
He proposed a security approach combining personnel, hardware, surveillance technology, intelligence and faster operational response.
The ADC candidate said terrorist financing, weapons movement and camp locations should produce actionable intelligence before attacks occurred.
He also promised stronger coordination among intelligence agencies and measurable performance standards for security commanders.
The statement forms part of Atiku’s campaign effort to contrast his proposed security strategy with the approach of the Tinubu administration.
The Federal Government has repeatedly said security agencies are expanding operations against terrorist and criminal groups across several regions.
Atiku’s criticism nevertheless reflects growing political pressure over persistent attacks and kidnappings ahead of the 2027 election.
