Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the recent wave of deadly attacks and massacres reported in parts of Kwara, Katsina, and Benue states, describing the escalating violence as clear proof that Nigeria has become a “killing field.”
In a scathing statement issued on Thursday, Atiku expressed profound anguish over the loss of innocent lives and accused the government of catastrophic failure in its primary duty to protect citizens, particularly the most vulnerable rural communities.
He pointed to the growing scale, frequency, and brutality of the attacks as evidence of systemic breakdown in security architecture, lamenting that routine official condemnations issued after mass burials have become meaningless and unacceptable.
The former vice president stressed that security operations must shift decisively from a reactive posture—responding only after lives have been lost—to a proactive, deliberate, and preventive strategy capable of deterring criminals before they strike.
Atiku warned that communities repeatedly targeted by bandits, terrorists, and other armed groups should never be abandoned or left exposed as “open hunting grounds” for criminals. He insisted that such areas require sustained protection, not temporary sympathy after tragedy.
Posting on his verified X account, Atiku wrote:
“The reported massacres in parts of Kwara, Katsina and Benue are a damning confirmation that Nigeria has descended into a killing field.
“The scale and frequency of these attacks expose a catastrophic failure of the state to protect the lives of its citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
“Empty condemnations after mass burials are no longer acceptable. Security must be proactive, deliberate and preventive, not reactive. Communities repeatedly attacked must not be left as open hunting grounds for criminals.
“I am deeply pained by these killings. I call on the federal government, states, and communities to act decisively and in concert to end this bloodletting.
“The murder of even one Nigerian is an unforgivable failure.”
The statement comes amid fresh reports of violence across several states. In Kwara State, suspected Boko Haram elements reportedly carried out a deadly attack on the Worro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, prompting President Bola Tinubu to order the immediate deployment of an Army battalion and the launch of Operation Savanna Shield. Similar incidents of banditry and communal clashes have been documented in parts of Katsina and Benue, resulting in multiple deaths, displacement, and destruction of property.
Atiku’s remarks reflect a growing chorus of concern from political leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society groups over the persistent failure to contain insecurity despite repeated promises and military operations. He called for a collective, multi-level response involving the federal government, state authorities, and local communities to restore safety and end the cycle of bloodshed.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate emphasised that the death of even a single Nigerian due to preventable violence constitutes an unforgivable failure of governance, underscoring the moral and constitutional obligation of leaders at all levels to prioritise the protection of life and property.
As insecurity continues to dominate national discourse, Atiku’s statement adds to pressure on the Tinubu administration to deliver more effective and sustainable solutions to the security crisis plaguing Nigeria’s rural and border communities.
