Maiduguri Blasts: Atiku Slams Tinubu, Urges Security Review

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu following the triple suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State, which left 23 people dead and 108 others injured.

In a statement on Tuesday, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed concern over the return of suicide bombings, a tactic he said the nation appeared to have moved past in recent years.

Atiku argued that the Federal Government’s habit of issuing condemnatory statements after terror attacks has become ineffective, stating that Nigerians are more interested in tangible results than “tough rhetoric.”

The former Vice President accused the Tinubu administration of being more focused on political maneuvers against the opposition than on tackling the nation’s security challenges.

“The Tinubu government appears to be more obsessed with crushing opposition politicians than it is with fixing the worsening security challenges. It is obvious that despite the marching orders, the terrorists are still on the offensive,” Atiku said.

Highlighting the wave of killings affecting both soldiers and civilians by Boko Haram and ISWAP, Atiku called for an immediate and thorough review of the country’s security architecture.

He further claimed that while Nigerian soldiers are on the front lines, they are often hampered by “outdated equipment.”

Atiku also touched on the 2027 election cycle, warning the presidency against prioritizing re-election campaigns over the safety of citizens. He noted that the victims of such attacks come from all political leanings, making security a non-partisan issue.

“A government that is too heavily invested in the 2027 re-election campaign is unlikely to accept the reality of insecurity,” he stated. “You cannot campaign for 2027 on the graves of the people you failed to protect in 2026.”

The former Vice President concluded by urging the President to move beyond “marching orders” and adopt a more proactive approach to safeguarding the lives of Nigerians.