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By John Ogunsemore
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned massive abductions in Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, warning the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration that Nigerians could no longer be comforted by excuses.
This was conveyed in a Wednesday statement signed by Paul Ibe for Atiku Media Office.
After initial denial, the Kaduna State Police Command confirmed the abduction of worshippers from three churches from Kurmin Wali community.
At least 177 residents were abducted last Sunday during church service.
In the statement by his media office, Atiku expressed concern over the “increasing audacity of the bandits who attack at will unchallenged”.
He said it was concerning that some states were claiming victory in their peace deals with bandits while these same criminals were still busy attacking communities and taking hostages.
“It’s colossally embarrassing to see non-state actors holding the country hostage and attacking people and taking hostages again and again unchallenged,” he said.
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Atiku said it would be difficult to achieve deterrence in a situation where governors were on their knees begging bandits in the name of peace deals.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain explained that while he was not against negotiations to end the violence, he would not accept a situation where the bandits dictate the peace deals on their own terms.
“Those peace deals always favour the bandits more than their victims and they have always fooled the government’s negotiators,” he said.
He said the government did not have to wait until the bandits launch attacks before responding appropriately.
“Nigerians are no longer impressed by the powerful language of condemnation by the government.
“They’re more interested in results than rhetoric. Experience has shown that if rhetoric were enough to deter the bandits, the menace would have ended a long time ago,” he stated.
The ex-VP stressed that the Tinubu-led APC administration must be held accountable for its own campaign promises to end insecurity in the country.
“Nigerians cannot be comforted by excuses. As a former opposition party, the APC held the then government in power to the harshest and merciless standards and therefore, the Tinubu administration must be held to the same standards,” he said.
