Atiku Blasts Tinubu Over Rising Insecurity After Ex-Lawmaker Dies in Captivity

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the worsening insecurity across Nigeria following the death of former House of Representatives member Abba Adamu in bandits’ captivity, describing the country as “a nation under siege.”

The criticism came on May 12, 2026, after reports confirmed that the former lawmaker died days after being abducted along the Kaduna–Abuja highway. Atiku accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, warning that insecurity had reached alarming levels nationwide.

In a statement issued through his aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president described the incident as a tragic reflection of what he called the collapse of national security under the current administration. He argued that the abduction and death of a former federal lawmaker on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways exposed the vulnerability faced daily by ordinary citizens.

Atiku further urged the Federal Government to move beyond political rhetoric and implement decisive measures capable of restoring public confidence and tackling banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping across the country.