Atiku to FG: Under no circumstances should we allow terrorists to destroy our way of life, prevent our children from going to school

*Calls for emergency safety declaration

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has decried the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria, expressing concern that attacks by terrorists and bandits are now aimed not only at wasting precious human lives, but at crippling the country’s education.

Atiku raised the concern on Wednesday following the latest attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of ​​Kogi State, in which three persons, including the deputy principal of the school, and two others were killed while several students were abducted.

Recall that a total of no fewer than 90 school children were kidnapped on May 15 in Oriire, Oyo State and Mussa, Borno State, and the headmaster of Oriire school was beheaded.

The ADC presidential candidate in the 2027 elections is concerned that there is a pattern to these attacks aimed at crippling our education sector and consequently blocking our development progress.

The former vice president, therefore, calls for the declaration of security emergency in Nigeria. He, however, noted that the state of security emergency does not include the suspension of elected officials of states.

According to Waziri Adamawa, the latest attack on a school in Kogi State is a direct threat to education and a colossal national embarrassment that requires urgent and drastic action.

“It is time for the federal government to declare an emergency declaration to give commanders more freedom to act decisively and proactively against these monsters in the county,” Atiku said.

“I am in no way calling for the removal of elected officials, but rather advocating for commanders to have a freer hand to protect their battlefield decisions from political interference.”
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The ADC presidential candidate explained that “Nigeria is facing worsening insecurity which requires extraordinary measures, including state of emergency.

“Learning can only take place in a safe environment, and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous places. Worse, the anxiety and trauma that follow terrorist attacks on schools will inevitably make the school environment unsafe for both students and teachers.

“Under no circumstances should we allow terrorists or bandits to destroy our way of life and prevent our children from going to school.”

The former vice president added that “a terrorist attack on a school poses a threat to schools in other parts of the country because of its domino effect.”

As part of drastic measures to address these security challenges, Atiku has advocated the establishment of national guards made up of retired veterans to supplement the efforts of our military and police who are clearly overstretched and understaffed.”

He also called for better human intelligence on terrorist movements and greater community-level vigilance, explaining that “our communities have a great role to play in information sharing and eternal vigilance.”

Signed:
Atiku press office
Abuja