The Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have exchanged words over the state of insecurity in Nigeria, with both sides presenting different views on the country’s security situation and the government’s response to recent killings.
The dispute followed Atiku’s criticism of the Bola Tinubu administration over a report that 5,091 Nigerians were killed in violent incidents within three months. Atiku said the figure showed that the government had failed to protect citizens and called for a change in leadership ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, who is contesting the 2027 election under the African Democratic Congress, also linked the security challenges to what he described as poor management of public funds. He argued that security agencies needed adequate funding, equipment, welfare and operational support to effectively tackle terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of violence.
He further said that better salaries for soldiers, although welcome, would not be enough to address the problems facing personnel on the frontline. According to him, the government must ensure that defence and security budgets are properly implemented and that funds are directed towards protecting lives and property.
The former Vice President said the reported death toll represented thousands of families affected by insecurity and argued that the figures should force the government to review its approach to national security.
However, the Presidency rejected Atiku’s assessment, saying the former Vice President had ignored the actions and results of the country’s security agencies.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said security agencies had recorded major successes during the same period Atiku referenced. He claimed that between 13,000 and 20,000 terrorists had been killed in military and security operations, while at least 10,000 Nigerians had been rescued from captivity.
Ajayi also pointed to recent rescue operations involving abducted Nigerians in parts of the North-Central region. He said security agencies had continued to rescue victims of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism while also arresting suspects and disrupting the activities of armed groups.
The Presidential aide accused Atiku of focusing only on the number of people killed while failing to acknowledge the actions of the military, police and Department of State Services in rescuing victims and tackling criminal groups.
He also dismissed Atiku’s prediction that the security situation should lead to the removal of the Tinubu administration, maintaining that the President would seek another term in 2027 and would secure victory.
The disagreement also drew a response from the police. Force spokesperson Ani Iniedu disputed the figures presented by Atiku and said available security data showed that violent crime had reduced in recent months.
The police position comes as the Federal Government continues to point to recent rescue operations as proof of progress in its fight against insecurity.
Among the operations cited was the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State after they spent 56 days in captivity. Security agencies also rescued 308 Nigerians who had been abducted in Kwara and Niger states in an operation involving the military, DSS and police.
President Tinubu has since directed security agencies to improve early warning systems and strengthen intelligence gathering at the community level to prevent further mass abductions.
Atiku, however, has remained critical of the administration’s handling of security and other national issues. His latest criticism is coming ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where he is expected to challenge Tinubu after joining the African Democratic Congress.
The latest exchange between both camps has further increased political tension ahead of the 2027 election, with insecurity expected to remain one of the major issues likely to shape the campaign.