Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, is criticizing the federal government for celebrating the release of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, saying it’s a sign of the country’s worsening security situation. He believes the government’s actions are a “shameful attempt to polish over a national disaster and disguise government failure as some form of achievement”.
Atiku argues that the release of the girls shouldn’t be framed as a government success, but rather as a reminder that terrorists and kidnappers are operating freely, negotiating openly, and dictating terms. He questions why the government is boasting about talking to terrorists instead of eliminating them, and why kidnapping has become a routine phone call between criminals and state officials.
The government, on the other hand, claims it opted for a non-kinetic approach to safeguard the lives of the abductees, citing the presence of civilians in the affected areas. Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga credits the rescue to coordinated efforts by the Department of State Services and the military, saying they monitored the kidnappers’ movements and made contact to retrieve the girls without paying ransom.
