Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the release of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, describing their freedom as evidence of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis rather than an achievement.
In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Atiku said the return of the students should not be celebrated, insisting it 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.”
His reaction followed comments made by Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, during an interview on Arise News TV on Monday. Onanuga had praised the efforts of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military, saying security operatives tracked the kidnappers in real time and established contact to secure the girls’ release without paying ransom.
According to Onanuga, the delay in confronting the abductors directly was due to the risk of endangering civilians.
“The security people, they know all the bandits that are operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate… They need to be very careful that in the course of chasing these bandits, they don’t go and bomb innocent Nigerians,” he stated.
But Atiku dismissed the explanation, calling it “a shameful attempt to whitewash a national tragedy and dress up government incompetence as heroism.” He questioned why the security agencies failed to arrest or neutralise the kidnappers if they were indeed being tracked.
“If, as Onanuga claims, the DSS and the military could ‘track’ the kidnappers in real time and ‘made contact’ with them, then the question is simple: Why were these criminals not arrested, neutralised, or dismantled on the spot?” he said.
He further argued that the government’s narrative suggests that terrorists now operate as “an alternative government,” negotiating freely, collecting ransom, and retreating without consequences while officials claim victory.
“No serious nation applauds itself for negotiating with terrorists it claims to have under surveillance,” Atiku added.
The abduction occurred on November 17, when gunmen stormed Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, killing a staff member and abducting 25 students. One girl escaped shortly after, leaving 24 in captivity until their release on Tuesday.
President Bola Tinubu, through Onanuga, welcomed the development, expressing relief that all the girls had been accounted for and commending the security agencies for their efforts. He also called for increased troop deployment to troubled areas and urged security forces to intensify efforts to rescue other abducted citizens nationwide.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, confirmed that no ransom was paid, attributing the release to coordinated security operations.
