Atiku Faults FG’s Celebration of Released Abductees, Says Kidnappers Still Walking Free

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Federal Government over what he described as
its misplaced celebration of the release of abducted persons while failing to apprehend and prosecute
their kidnappers.

Atiku, in a statement issued Tuesday, said the government’s public jubilation each time abducted
Nigerians’ regain freedom sends a “dangerous message,” especially as the criminal networks responsible the kidnappings remain at large.
According to the former vice president, the frequent mass abductions across the country show a
deepening failure of security intelligence and counter-terror operations.

Atiku argued that celebrating the release of abductees without a corresponding arrest of the perpetrators paints a troubling picture of the state’s capacity to protect its citizens.
“Rescuing victims, whether through negotiations or security intervention, is not a victory if the
kidnappers who carried out the crime are still walking free and planning the next attack,” Atiku said.

He noted that banditry, kidnapping-for-ransom, and militant criminality now “form a parallel economy”
in many parts of the country, warning that the government’s approach risks normalizing insecurity.
Atiku urged the Federal Government to prioritize dismantling the financial and operational structures
that enable criminal groups to thrive. He argued that the country cannot rely on “ad-hoc rescue efforts” while expecting long-term improvement in national security.

“Nigeria needs a coordinated intelligence strategy, strengthened community policing, and prosecution-
led security operations,” he said, adding that the government must stop “rewarding or enabling”
ransom-based networks.
Atiku’s comments come amid rising criticism of the government’s handling of nationwide kidnappings,
with many Nigerians expressing frustration at recurring abductions in schools, highways, and rural
communities.

Security analysts have echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that rescue operations alone do not reduce
crime unless perpetrators are tracked, arrested, and prosecuted.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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