Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the growing wave of killings and abductions across Nigeria, saying the current administration has failed in its core responsibility to protect citizens.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the Federal Government of responding to deadly attacks with routine press releases rather than taking decisive security action.

He warned that the continued loss of lives and increase in kidnappings across several states point to what he described as a breakdown in governance.

The former presidential candidate said Nigerians are increasingly frustrated by repeated assurances from government officials while insecurity persists, noting that leadership must be judged by concrete results rather than rhetoric.

His comments come in the wake of fresh incidents of violence and abductions reported in different parts of the country. In Oyo State, gunmen recently kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of schools.

Similar attacks have also been recorded in parts of northern Nigeria, including Katsina State, where communities continue to grapple with banditry and killings.

Atiku maintained that no government that cannot guarantee the safety of its citizens should expect public confidence, insisting that the current situation reflects a failure of leadership at the highest level.

He further urged the Tinubu administration to adopt proactive and intelligence-driven strategies to tackle insecurity, rather than reacting after attacks have occurred.

The statement adds to mounting political pressure on the Federal Government as opposition figures intensify criticism of the administration’s handling of security challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.