Atiku Condemns Kaduna Massacre, Says Nigerians Need Security, Not Promises

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the deadly terrorist attack on communities in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the killings as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”

The attack, which occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on Monday, reportedly claimed the lives of at least 30 residents after heavily armed gunmen stormed the affected village and opened fire indiscriminately.

According to Amnesty International, the attackers pursued fleeing villagers into nearby bushes, killing dozens more, while several residents remain missing.

The rights organisation said additional bodies were later recovered from homes and surrounding farmlands, describing the incident as one of the deadliest attacks recorded in Southern Kaduna in recent years.

Amnesty International also criticised the authorities for failing to adequately protect vulnerable communities and bring perpetrators of similar attacks to justice.

Reacting in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the latest tragedy reflects the Federal Government’s inability to fulfill its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.

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“The reported killing of scores of innocent Nigerians in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Atiku said.

“Every life lost is a painful indictment of a government that has repeatedly promised security but continues to preside over an expanding landscape of bloodshed. No nation can claim progress when its citizens are hunted down in their homes and communities by criminals who operate with such frightening impunity.”

The former vice president stressed that Nigerians need effective security measures rather than public commendations from foreign nations.

“The people of Southern Kaduna—and indeed all Nigerians—do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security. They need to sleep without fear, travel without anxiety, cultivate their farms in peace, and raise their children without the constant threat of terrorists, bandits, and other violent criminals,” he stated.

Atiku called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, urging the government to strengthen intelligence-driven operations, swiftly apprehend and prosecute those responsible for violent attacks, and adopt proactive measures to prevent future incidents.

He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

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The Cable report that the former presidential candidate further urged security agencies to intensify efforts to secure vulnerable communities, especially as the country moves closer to another election cycle.

“History will not remember how many letters of commendation a government claimed to have received. It will remember whether it protected its people when they needed protection the most. Today, the blood of innocent Nigerians speaks far louder than any unverified claim of international praise,” Atiku added.