Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, condemned the renewed attacks in Plateau State which claimed scores of lives on Sunday.
Lashing out at President Bola Tinubu, the former vice president said his administration’s security policy and infrastructure have failed woefully.
On Sunday, no fewer than 47 people were killed in Zike community in the Kimakpa area of the Kwali district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The deadly attack occurred barely a week after a similar attack in Bokkos Local Government Area in which scores of people were also killed and property destroyed.
Atiku also criticised the upsurge in terrorist attacks in Borno State, which has led to the loss of lives and territories to Boko Haram insurgents.
The PDP flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said that these manifestations were indicative of the woeful failure of both the security policy and infrastructure of the Tinubu-led administration.
Atiky, therefore, urged the Federal Government to take tougher proactive measures to deal with what he called “these disgraceful incidents that challenge our national security.”
He explained that “every sincere Nigerian should be worried about the frequency and impunity with which terrorists and bandits attack innocent people in the country, especially in Northern Nigeria, which has become the epicentre of terrorist violence in the country.”
He added that the delay in the prosecution of captured terrorists and bandits in custody since 2016 had emboldened the mass murderers to kill with impunity.
“If the government had applied the same energy in the prosecution of terrorists and bandits as it did in the trial of political critics, it would have gone a long way to send a powerful message to the outlaws that there are consequences for mass murder,” Atiku said.
He stressed that the prosecution of terrorists and bandits should be accorded the highest priority by the Attorney General of the Federation.
Atiku further explained that there should be special courts to fast-track the trial and conviction of terrorists in the country.
“Hundreds of terrorists and bandits have been in custody since 2016 without trial, and the delay in bringing them to justice is demoralising to our security forces. If terrorists and bandits are captured and then are left in custody longer than necessary without trial, it will undermine the efforts and sacrifices of our security forces,” he added.
He further stated, “Our criminal justice system is notoriously slow and as a result, terrorists and bandits are thus encouraged to feel that crime pays.”
The former Vice President also expressed “embarrassment at how armed criminal groups cross through our borders to carry out terrorist activities in Nigeria,” adding that condemnation of terrorist attacks by the government is not enough as prompt and proactive measures to forestall further attacks and loss of innocent lives.
Atiku noted that as long as the terrorists and bandits operate successfully without consequences, they will never stop to attack innocent people.
