Atiku blasts Tinubu over rising kidnappings despite subsidy savings

By Abubakar Yunus

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government over the continued abduction of Nigerians despite President Bola Tinubu’s promise that savings from fuel subsidy removal would help strengthen national security.

Atiku said Nigerians remained exposed to kidnappers on highways, in communities and around schools, despite the government’s commitment to deploying subsidy savings to tackle insecurity.

The former Vice-President stated this in a post on his X handle on Monday while reacting to the abduction of travellers, including prospective National Youth Service Corps members, in Imo State.

He urged the Federal Government, the Imo State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims still in captivity.

“Tinubu promised that savings from subsidy removal would help fund security. Yet Nigerians remain exposed to kidnappers on our roads, in our communities and around our schools,” Atiku stated.

He described the abduction of 20 travellers, including prospective corps members, in Imo State as “heartbreaking”.

According to him, although some of the victims had been rescued, others remained in captivity.

“I urge the Federal and Imo State governments, and all security agencies, to act with urgency and bring everyone still being held home safely,” he said.

Atiku also raised concerns over the continued captivity of more than 70 pupils and students abducted from Mussa and Lassa in Borno State.

He said the victims, who had remained in captivity for months, must not be forgotten.

“These children must not be forgotten. Their families deserve clear updates, and the public deserves answers,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate further criticised the government’s handling of security contracts, alleging that huge pipeline security contracts were being awarded to politically connected companies while ordinary Nigerians continued to face attacks from criminals.

“The first duty of government is to protect lives,” he declared.

Atiku said young Nigerians were facing insecurity at different stages of their lives, from secondary school to university and while travelling to NYSC orientation camps.

“Young people face danger in secondary school, struggle with unaffordable fees at university, and are now targets on their journeys to NYSC camps. This is a generation being failed at every stage,” he said.

He prayed for the immediate and safe rescue of all abducted young Nigerians and the return of those still unaccounted for.

Atiku also reaffirmed his commitment to building what he described as a safer and more affordable Nigeria where young people could “create, build and prosper”.