ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a stinging condemnation of the worsening security crisis in Nigeria, describing the nation as a “killing field” following a wave of deadly attacks in Kwara, Benue, and Katsina states in early February 2026.
In a formal statement released on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate decried the scale of recent massacres as evidence of a “grave failure” by the Nigerian state. However, his remarks have immediately reignited a long-standing controversy regarding his past handling of religious-motivated violence—specifically the 2022 lynching of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto.
Atiku’s latest critique targets the “weak and reactive” approach of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
Critics were quick to remind the former Vice President of his own controversial record on speaking out against targeted killings. In May 2022, Atiku deleted a tweet condemning the brutal murder of Deborah Samuel, a Christian student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto who was lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy.
The deletion, which occurred after a backlash from Northern extremists, led many to accuse Atiku of prioritizing 2023 political ambitions over the lives of citizens. This past “silence” continues to haunt his current critiques, with social media users questioning the sincerity of his “killing field” narrative when he previously failed to stand firm against a specific act of religious extremism.
Despite the baggage, Atiku maintained his call for a radical shift in security policy:
Atiku’s statement comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) slams the Senate for rejecting electronic result transmission, a move they call a “renewed rigging plan” for 2027. While Atiku frames the 2027 cycle as a referendum on “Renewed Hope” failures, his detractors argue that his history of selective condemnation remains a hurdle to his own credibility.
Hey there! Exciting news - we've deactivated our website's comment provider to focus on more interactive channels! Join the conversation on our stories through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages, and let's chat, share, and connect in the best way possible!
In a formal statement released on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate decried the scale of recent massacres as evidence of a “grave failure” by the Nigerian state. However, his remarks have immediately reignited a long-standing controversy regarding his past handling of religious-motivated violence—specifically the 2022 lynching of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto.
Atiku’s latest critique targets the “weak and reactive” approach of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
Critics were quick to remind the former Vice President of his own controversial record on speaking out against targeted killings. In May 2022, Atiku deleted a tweet condemning the brutal murder of Deborah Samuel, a Christian student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto who was lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy.
The deletion, which occurred after a backlash from Northern extremists, led many to accuse Atiku of prioritizing 2023 political ambitions over the lives of citizens. This past “silence” continues to haunt his current critiques, with social media users questioning the sincerity of his “killing field” narrative when he previously failed to stand firm against a specific act of religious extremism.
Despite the baggage, Atiku maintained his call for a radical shift in security policy:
Atiku’s statement comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) slams the Senate for rejecting electronic result transmission, a move they call a “renewed rigging plan” for 2027. While Atiku frames the 2027 cycle as a referendum on “Renewed Hope” failures, his detractors argue that his history of selective condemnation remains a hurdle to his own credibility.
Hey there! Exciting news - we've deactivated our website's comment provider to focus on more interactive channels! Join the conversation on our stories through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages, and let's chat, share, and connect in the best way possible!