Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the abduction of a school principal, a NECO official, and several students at Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Kogi State. Describing the event as a distressing indicator of systemic failure, Abubakar stated through his aide, Phrank Shaibu, that educational environments should be safe havens for learning rather than locations for criminal activity.
Abubakar argued that the current administration has neglected its primary duty to protect citizens, allowing schools to become soft targets for criminals. He linked this security breakdown to broader government policies that have increased exam costs and reduced public investment in education, suggesting that these actions have marginalized vulnerable students and signaled that schooling is not a national priority.
The former Vice President contended that the lack of accountability and reckless fiscal management under the Tinubu administration has emboldened criminal factions. He warned that the normalization of such violence effectively surrenders the nation’s future to instability.
Ultimately, Abubakar demanded the immediate rescue of the victims and called for a fundamental overhaul of school security protocols across Nigeria. He urged the government to move beyond empty rhetoric and implement concrete reforms to ensure that students can pursue their studies without the constant threat of violence.
