Atiku, Obi Accuse Tinubu of Normalising Killings, Allowing Insecurity To Thrive

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi have accused President Bola Tinubu, normalising the killing of Nigerians across the country.

The comments followed a particularly bloody week in which multiple attacks across northern Nigeria left scores of citizens dead and dozens wounded.

From coordinated bandit assaults and targeted assassinations to suicide bombings, the wave of violence has sparked widespread concern, with many questioning the Federal Government’s security strategy, response mechanisms, and public empathy.

According to security reports, at least 50 lives were lost in a single day to violent attacks in Kano, Plateau, Kebbi, Katsina, and Borno States.

The grim toll includes a suicide bombing carried out by a female attacker in Gwoza, Borno, which claimed 24 lives, and the massacre of 12 wedding guests in Plateau.

In Kano, a bomb blast killed five people, while in Kebbi, bandits reportedly murdered 30 residents.

In Katsina, a police inspector was gunned down in cold blood.

In a country not officially at war, these incidents have left Nigerians horrified — and deeply frustrated.

Atiku wondered why such spate of killings could happen in a single day, denouncing what he described as the Tinubu administration’s dangerous complacency in the face of tragedy.

“The heartbreaking reports from Borno, Plateau, Kano, and Kebbi where over 50 lives were lost in violent attacks and explosions are a devastating blow to our collective conscience as a nation,” Atiku said.

“My deepest sympathies go to the bereaved families and the affected communities. These tragedies are not mere statistics — they are real stories of shattered families, stolen dreams, and communities plunged into sorrow.”

He warned, “We cannot continue to normalize this scale of bloodshed. Nigeria urgently needs a decisive, people-centered approach to security, one that prioritizes human life above all else. Leadership must be measured not by words, but by its ability to protect lives and restore peace.”

Atiku also warned that without a coordinated and compassionate response, the nation risks descending further into lawlessness, adding that continued inaction may be interpreted as governmental indifference to the suffering of citizens.

In a separate statement, Peter Obi echoed similar concerns, painting a bleak picture of a nation in distress, where violence has become routine and governance appears disconnected from the realities on the ground.

“The regularity of bloodletting of innocent souls in our country has reduced the news value of human deaths,” Obi said.

“A glance at the headlines in a single day paints a horrific picture — bomb explosions, mass killings, ambushes. These are not isolated events. They are now a defining feature of daily life in Nigeria.”

Highlighting the string of recent tragedies, Obi remarked, “In Kano today, a bomb explosion has left at least five persons dead and many injured. Just yesterday, 12 wedding guests were attacked and killed in Plateau.

“In Kebbi, 30 people were confirmed dead following a bandit rampage. In Borno, a female suicide bomber killed 24 citizens. In Katsina, bandits gunned down a police inspector.”

“All of this just in a day — for a country that is not even at war,” he said gravely. “And there are still many other unreported cases as the incidents are spreading to all nooks and crannies of the country.”

Obi further warned that the consequences of unchecked violence go beyond lives lost.

“An administration that continuously allows insecurity and other vices to thrive is doing a grave disservice to the nation,” he said.

“The world is watching. People see these killings and the corruption all over the system. Allowing this to continue is the real demarketing of our country.

“But while the country bleeds daily, the relevant authorities must offer adequate response. The grieving Nigerians are not shown any empathy by leaders.

“We must tackle this insecurity now. It is destroying lives and demarketing our nation. All hands must be on deck.

“We must act now to save our country. Nigerians deserve to live,” Obi said.

Atiku, Obi Accuse Tinubu of Normalising Killings, Allowing Insecurity To Thrive is first published on The Whistler Newspaper