Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State, urging an urgent review of Nigeria’s security strategies to protect citizens.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Atiku expressed deep sorrow over the resurgence of suicide bombings, which he said had previously been defeated. “The resurgence of terrorism is capable of eroding public confidence in the ability of the government to protect its own citizens,” he warned.
The attacks, which occurred on Monday night, targeted the Maiduguri Monday Market, the Post Office, and an area near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. At least 23 people were killed, and more than 100 others were injured, with families still searching for loved ones in the affected locations.
Recalling the peak of Boko Haram’s activity in 2014, Atiku highlighted the worrying trend of increasing attacks on both civilians and military personnel. While commending the sacrifices of servicemen, he urged the Bola Tinubu administration to reconsider its strategies, asserting that government statements condemning attacks have done little to reassure the public.
“The Tinubu government appears to be more obsessed with crushing opposition politicians than it is with fixing the worsening security challenges,” Atiku added. He warned against politicising security concerns, noting that terrorists do not distinguish between political affiliations.
Highlighting the human toll, Atiku stressed, “A mother in Maiduguri is not asking for press releases. She is asking why her child was blown apart in a place the government claimed was ‘liberated.’” He also criticised the timing of the President’s state visit to the United Kingdom, noting that soldiers were dying with outdated equipment while attacks continued at home.
Atiku called for a government focused on results rather than rhetoric, stating, “You cannot campaign for 2027 on the graves of the people you failed to protect in 2026.”
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the attacks and said investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
