Atiku: Nigeria Prioritizes Minor Matters While Insecurity Dominates; Reacts to Sowore's Arrest

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticised the federal government for what he said was an inappropriate focus on security matters.

In a statement released by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku accused authorities of prioritising the prosecution of activist Omoyele Sowore while lethal attacks continued across the country.

He lamented the recent killings in Plateau State, where at least 18 people were reported killed and several others injured during a late‑night attack on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area.

Atiku expressed concern over the lack of a prompt and visible response from security agencies after the attack, alleging that no decisive action had been taken against those responsible for the violence.

According to him, the silence that followed the incident has raised doubts about the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities that face repeated assaults from armed groups.

He contrasted this with the heavy security presence around Sowore’s legal troubles, arguing that security personnel should be directed toward safeguarding citizens in areas threatened by terrorism, banditry and communal violence.

“We major in minors while insecurity rules the land. Why can’t these security forces be deployed to vulnerable parts of the country where citizens are at the mercy of terrorists and bandits instead of using security personnel meant to protect Nigerians to intimidate them?” he said.

Atiku further questioned the government’s apparent urgency in dealing with political critics while communities affected by insecurity continue to suffer attacks and loss of lives.

He maintained that the primary responsibility of the government is to safeguard citizens and to ensure that security agencies focus on confronting threats to public safety rather than actions that could be perceived as targeting dissenting voices.