A reported 5,091 Nigerians were killed in violent incidents within three months, according to figures cited by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who described the death toll as an indictment of President Bola Tinubu’s security record.
Atiku questioned the Federal Government’s ability to fulfil what he described as its most basic responsibility of protecting lives and property, arguing that the reported killings reflected the human cost of worsening insecurity.
His position was contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku said the figures should not be viewed simply as statistics, arguing that every death represented a Nigerian whose life was cut short and a family affected by violence.
“Behind every number is a Nigerian whose life was cut short, a family thrown into mourning, children deprived of parents and communities condemned to fear.”
He added:
“Five thousand and ninety-one reported killings in just three months should trouble the conscience of any government.”
Atiku Links Insecurity To Government Spending
Atiku argued that the security challenges facing the country could not be separated from what he described as wasteful spending, poor budget implementation and fiscal indiscipline by the Federal Government.
He said inadequate implementation of appropriations for critical security needs could undermine the ability of the military and other security agencies to respond effectively to violent threats.
The former vice president also accused the government of prioritising what he described as politically expedient projects while failing to fully implement funds allocated to essential national responsibilities.
According to Atiku, scarce public resources should be directed towards strengthening the capacity of security personnel deployed to the frontlines.
“These are the human cost of every padded budget, every frivolous expenditure and every failure to fully implement funds appropriated for critical national priorities.”
He further argued that security personnel could not be expected to effectively confront violent threats without adequate resources.
“You cannot run the public treasury as though it were a private purse, squander scarce resources on questionable priorities and then expect soldiers and other security personnel on the frontlines to perform miracles.”
Security Agencies Need More Than Higher Salaries
Atiku welcomed the recently announced pay increase for military personnel but said improved salaries alone would not resolve the challenges confronting troops.
He argued that effective support for security personnel must also include adequate equipment, operational funding, timely allowances and proper welfare for their families.
“Our soldiers deserve better pay, but morale is about much more than salaries.”
Atiku said strengthening the operational capacity of the military and other security agencies should therefore go beyond remuneration to include equipment, logistics and welfare for personnel serving in dangerous areas.
He urged the Federal Government to reduce waste and improve the implementation of budgetary provisions for defence and security.
The Wider Governance Argument
Atiku said Nigerians deserved a government that treated security as an urgent national priority, arguing that the protection of citizens was fundamental to effective governance.
“A government that cannot protect its citizens has failed the first test of governance.”
He also said victims of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes should not be reduced to statistics.
According to him, those killed were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, breadwinners and other citizens who had a right to expect protection from the government.
Atiku argued that the reported death toll should form part of Nigerians’ assessment of the Tinubu administration.
His statement therefore extends the debate over the reported killings beyond the immediate security situation to questions about government spending, budget implementation and the resources available to security agencies. His position is that addressing insecurity requires not only better remuneration for personnel but also adequate equipment, logistics, operational funding and welfare.
Atiku concluded by directly linking the reported figure to his criticism of the administration’s security record.
“Today, we have 5,091 reported killings in just three months, 5,091 shattered families, 5,091 indictments of this administration’s security failures, and ultimately, 5,091 reasons this government must go,” he said.
The statement leaves Atiku’s position clear: he regards the reported 5,091 killings as evidence of what he considers serious shortcomings in the Tinubu administration’s handling of security and is calling for stronger funding, better implementation of security allocations and improved support for personnel confronting violent threats.
