Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the recent bandit attacks in Kajuru, Kaduna State, cautioning that peace deals with criminals often give the upper hand to perpetrators rather than protecting the victims.
In a statement released Wednesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku stressed that government negotiations should prioritise safeguarding communities and upholding their rights, rather than offering criminals an unfair advantage.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed on Tuesday that bandits had abducted worshippers during a church service in Kajuru on Sunday.
Reacting to the incident, Atiku expressed concern over the growing audacity of the bandits, who continue to attack communities with little fear of consequences. He noted that, even as some states claim progress through negotiated peace deals, kidnappings and violent attacks persist.
“It is difficult to achieve deterrence in a situation where governors are on their knees begging bandits in the name of peace deals,” he said.
While acknowledging that negotiations can be part of ending violence, Atiku warned against allowing bandits to dictate the terms.
“Those peace deals always favour the bandits more than their victims, and they have consistently misled government negotiators,” he said.
He also urged authorities to act proactively, rather than waiting for attacks to occur.
“Nigerians are no longer impressed by powerful language of condemnation from the government. They want results, not rhetoric. Experience shows that if words alone could stop bandits, this menace would have ended long ago,” Atiku added.
The former vice president further held the Bola Tinubu-led APC government accountable for failing to deliver on campaign promises to address nationwide insecurity.
“Nigerians cannot be comforted by excuses. The APC, when in opposition, held the government to the strictest standards. The Tinubu administration must be held to the same standards,” he stated.
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