Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm over what he described as the growing audacity of bandits operating across the country, lamenting that criminal groups continued to attack communities and take hostages with little resistance.
Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), expressed his concerns while reacting to the latest attack on Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where about 177 worshippers were abducted from three churches.
In a statement signed by Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, and dated January 21, 2026, the former vice president said it was troubling that despite claims by some state governments of success in negotiating peace deals with bandits, the same criminal elements were still carrying out violent attacks unchecked.
“It’s colossally embarrassing to see non-state actors holding the country hostage and attacking people and taking hostages again and again unchallenged,” Atiku said.
He argued that deterrence becomes difficult in a situation where state authorities appeared weakened in their response to insecurity, noting that some governors have resorted to pleading with bandits under the guise of peace negotiations.
Atiku clarified that while he was not opposed to dialogue as a means of ending violence, he rejected any arrangement in which armed groups dictate the terms of engagement.
“Those peace deals always favour the bandits more than their victims and they have always fooled the government’s negotiators,” he said.
The former vice president also faulted what he described as reactive responses to insecurity, advising that government action should not be limited to moments after attacks have already occurred.
“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 added.
Atiku further stressed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu must be held accountable for its campaign promises to tackle insecurity across 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.
LEADERSHIP had reported that an incident on Sunday, January 18, at three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, resulted in the abduction of over 160 people. Initially, the State government and Police Command denied that the incident took place but later admitted to it on Tuesday through a statement by their spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin. This admission came after widespread public criticism of the police’s initial denial.
Credit: Leadership