The Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have exchanged fresh accusations over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity after Atiku cited 5,091 reported deaths in three months as evidence of the Tinubu administration’s failure to protect citizens.
The Presidency rejected the claim, arguing that the same period recorded significant counterterrorism gains, including the killing of between 13,000 and 20,000 terrorists and the rescue of at least 10,000 Nigerians from captivity.
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, made the counterargument on Sunday while responding to a statement issued by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku had described the administration’s security record as “soaked in blood” and argued that the reported death toll was sufficient grounds for the government to leave office.
Ajayi dismissed the former Vice President’s assessment, accusing him of deliberately overlooking the security agencies’ reported successes.
He said, “In the last three months, the security agencies have, according to official figures, killed between 13,000 to 20,000 terrorists. They have rescued at least 10,000 of Nigerians across the DSS, the police, the military. And this is according to official reports.
“So, every day the military, the police, the DSS are rescuing people. So, why is Atiku not commending them for that? Are those people who were rescued not important?”
The presidential aide accused Atiku of focusing exclusively on negative security statistics for political reasons.
“He cannot focus on that because it doesn’t serve his politics of despair. All he wants to focus on is despondency to sell fear to Nigerians. What it serves is warped politics. It is politics without conscience,” Ajayi said.
He pointed to the recent rescue of 308 Nigerians abducted in Kwara and Niger states as evidence of ongoing security operations.
“Just last week, 308 Nigerians were rescued from around Niger State, including those abducted in Kwara and part of Niger,” he said.
Ajayi said official reports from the military, police and Department of State Services showed that women, children and men had been rescued from kidnappers, bandits and Boko Haram across several states.
He also said security operations had extended beyond hostage rescues to the elimination and arrest of terrorists, disruption of their operations and the arrest of their logistics suppliers and informants.
The presidential aide further criticised Atiku for what he described as conduct unbecoming of a former Vice President and statesman.
He said Atiku should focus on the national interest rather than using insecurity to build political support ahead of the 2027 election.
Ajayi also predicted a decisive victory for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the administration was making progress against insecurity and insurgency while stabilising the country.
Atiku, however, maintained that the reported death toll represented a serious indictment of the government.
In his statement, Shaibu said the 5,091 reported killings reflected the administration’s failure to fulfil its “most fundamental constitutional responsibility, the protection of lives and property.”
The figure was attributed to data from SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based geopolitical research and strategic communications consultancy that tracks violent deaths, kidnappings and security incidents across Nigeria.
Atiku said, “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. 5,091 reported killings in just three months should trouble the conscience of any government.”
The former Vice President linked the security crisis to what he described as fiscal indiscipline, wasteful spending and poor implementation of appropriated funds.
“These figures are the human cost of every padded budget, every frivolous expenditure and every failure to fully implement funds appropriated for critical national priorities.
“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,” he said.
Atiku also criticised the prioritisation of politically expedient projects over national security, arguing that it had weakened the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
While welcoming the recently announced pay rise for military personnel, he said improved salaries alone would not resolve the challenges facing troops.
“Our soldiers deserve better pay, but morale is about much more than salaries.
“They require adequate equipment, operational funding, timely allowances, proper welfare for their families and the assurance that the government they defend is as committed to their mission as they are,” Atiku said.
He called for improved implementation of defence and national security budgets, alongside reduced waste and questionable spending.
“A government that cannot protect its citizens has failed the first test of governance,” he said.
Atiku ultimately argued that the reported killings justified a change of government.
“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.
Meanwhile, Force spokesperson Ani Iniedu disputed Atiku’s assessment, saying available security data indicated that violent crime had declined.
“I would not want to argue with somebody of his standing. However, if you check the analytics online from several security intelligence data, you will discover that in the past six months, violent crime in Nigeria has drastically reduced. That is the global data that’s available online. That data speaks for itself,” Iniedu said.
The Federal Government has also highlighted recent security operations, including the rescue of Oriire schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity in July.
Another major operation led to the rescue of 308 Nigerians abducted in Kwara and Niger states in early August. The operation involved the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Armed Forces, DSS and Nigeria Police Force.
President Tinubu welcomed the rescue and directed security agencies to strengthen early warning systems and community-level intelligence gathering to prevent future mass abductions.
Atiku, who is contesting the 2027 presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, has remained a consistent critic of the Tinubu administration’s security and economic policies since losing the 2023 presidential election to the President.
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