Insecurity: Tinubu govt’s counter-terrorism measures inadequate — Atiku
Atiku Abubakar Critiques President Tinubu’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s counter-terrorism measures as insufficient to address the escalating insecurity in Nigeria.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar attributed the ongoing violent attacks across the country to what he described as a deficient government framework for counter-terrorism. This critique comes amid a troubling trend of insecurity, highlighted by recent abductions of students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states attributed to suspected bandits.
Despite assurances from the federal government and security agencies about efforts to combat insecurity, incidents of violence persist. Abubakar noted that Nigeria’s current counter-terrorism strategies fail to adapt as swiftly as the threats they aim to mitigate.
“The terrorists are learning from every attack,” he said. “They study their successes and failures, refine their tactics, identify vulnerabilities, and adapt. The question Nigerians must ask is simple: Why isn’t the government doing the same?”
He pointed to a troubling pattern in Nigeria: attacks occur, the nation mourns, promises of action follow, and yet the cycle continues. “A nation that refuses to learn from its tragedies is condemned to relive them,” he stated.
Abubakar further argued that the rise in banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings underscores the inadequacy of the current counter-terrorism framework. He emphasized the need for government institutions to systematically analyze past attacks and apply those lessons to prevent future incidents.
He called for an immediate and comprehensive review of Nigeria’s national counter-terrorism policy. According to Abubakar, such a review should be informed by local experiences and challenges, focusing on context-specific, adaptive, and community-driven solutions rather than relying primarily on foreign models.
