Kidnappings Prompt Atiku to Call for State of Emergency in Nigeria's Security Situation

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Nigerian government to declare a state of emergency on security.

Atiku made the appeal while condemning the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, warning that terrorist and bandit attacks are not only costing lives but also crippling the country’s education system.

He voiced his concerns on Wednesday after the latest assault on Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba‑Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The attack left three people dead, including the school’s vice‑principal, and resulted in several students being abducted.

Earlier this year, on 15 May, at least 90 schoolchildren were abducted in Oriire, Oyo State, and Mussa, Borno State, and the principal of the Oriire school was beheaded.

The ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election fears a pattern in these attacks that is designed to undermine the education sector and, by extension, Nigeria’s development trajectory.

As a former vice‑president, he is calling for a security emergency but stresses that such a measure would not suspend elected state officials.

According to Waziri Adamawa, the recent Kogi State school attack represents a direct threat to education and a national embarrassment that demands urgent and decisive action.

In a statement signed by his Media Office, Atiku said: “It is high time the Federal Government declared a statement of emergency to empower commanders with more freedom to act decisively and proactively with these monsters in the country.”

“I am not in any way calling for the removal of elected officials, but rather advocating for commanders to have a freer hand to protect their battlefield decisions from political interference,” he added.

The ADC presidential candidate explained that “Nigeria is facing worsening insecurity that demands extraordinary measures, including a state of emergency.”

“Learning can only take place in a safe environment, and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous places,” he said.

“Worse still, the anxiety and trauma that follow terrorist attacks on schools will inevitably make the school environment unsafe for both students and teachers.”

“Under no circumstances should we allow terrorists or bandits to destroy our way of life and stop our children from going to school,” he warned.

The former vice‑president added that “a terrorist attack on one school is a threat to schools elsewhere across the country because of its domino effect.”

As part of the drastic measures to address these security challenges, Atiku advocated the establishment of national guards composed of retired veterans to complement the efforts of the military and police, which are clearly overstretched and under‑manned.

He also called for improved human intelligence on terrorist movements and greater community vigilance, explaining that “our communities have a great role to play in information sharing and eternal vigilance.”